The Dangers of Smoking
The best way to protect your heart against
CVD is to quit smoking. Women who smoke are just as likely
to die of heart disease as of lung cancer. Women who smoke
have two to six times the heart-attack risk as nonsmokers
do, and smokers are almost four times more likely to die
of a heart attack.
Watch Out for Secondhand Smoke
Secondhand smoking (inhaling smoke from other people’s
cigarettes) causes heart damage in nonsmokers. Secondhand
smoke exposure is widespread in the United States and throughout
the world. A study published in the Journal of the American
Medical Association found detectable levels of serum cotinine
(a by-product of nicotine) in 9 of every 10 nonsmokers in
a large, nationally representative sample.
This is dire news because regular exposure to secondhand
smoke doubles a woman’s risk for a heart attack, according
to a study of 32,000 nurses published in the medical journal
Circulation.
The Benefits of Not Smoking
Low-tar and low-nicotine cigarettes won’t help protect
your heart—the only solution is to kick the habit
completely. Even if you’ve smoked for most of your
life, giving up cigarettes can prevent further damage to
your heart.
As soon as you quit, you also will begin to reduce your
risk for developing lung cancer, other respiratory disorders,
and stroke. And you won’t miss the expense: a two-pack-a-day
smoker can spend more than $25,000 on cigarettes in a decade.
Giving up cigarettes also doesn’t have to make you
fat. Some studies indicate that the average woman who quits
smoking only gains 5 to 10 pounds.
Tips to Help You Kick the Habit
Congratulations on your decision to quit smoking. Consult
with your physician for advice, enlist the support of your
loved ones and friends, and pick a day to begin. With a
support network in place, you’ll be off to a good
start. Here are some additional tips:
- Use the nicotine patch or gum to reduce
the craving for nicotine, which is addictive.
- Join a quit-smoking support group or a chat
room on the Web. Check at your local hospital
for support group information. For more information on
learning how to quit smoking, contact the National Heart,
Lung, and Blood Institute Information Center, P.O. Box
30105, Bethesda, MD 20824-0105 or visit its Web site,
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov.
- Keep your hands busy by reading, writing,
knitting, drawing, and so on.
- Brush your teeth when you first wake up and
after you eat.
- Give yourself a break. If you slip
and have one or two cigarettes, you're not alone. Many
people that have successfully quit smoking experience
a slip. Don't be discouraged. Instead, get back on track
as a nonsmoker.
Source of Material: RockHill Communications, 14
Rock Hill Road Bala, Cynwyd, PA 19004, (610) 667-2040, http://www.RockHillCommunications.com
Writer: Christine Norris
Editors: Andrea King, Joanne Poeggel, Erin Murphy, Ron
Wozny
Clinical Reviewer: Patt Panzer, M.D. - RockHill Communications
Date Written: 3/1/01
Last Reviewed & Updated: 5/31/2003 |
