STOP SMOKING
MORE THAN 60 % OF CIGARETTE SMOKERS WANT TO QUIT.
#STOPPING SMOKING is one of the most important things you can do for your heart health. Tobacco, whether inhaled or chewed has many health risks and can cause damage to the heart, lungs, blood vessels and can greatly increases the risk of developing cancer of the mouth, throat, lungs as well as elsewhere in the body.
How do cigarettes hurt my heart?
Cigarette smoking, whether first or second hand, causes inflammation and changes in the number and size of blood vessels. Cigarettes cause fatty plaque buildup on the inside of your arteries; this is called atherosclerosis, and increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.
How can I quit smoking cigarettes? 1-800- QUIT- NOW
Ask for help: Quitting is not easy, but you have a team ready to help you achieve this goal. Tell friends and family about your desire to quit smoking and ask them to help you reach this goal. Tell your doctor that you want to quit and work together to come up with a plan and identify resources to help you quit.
Keep Quitting: Many smokers have tried quitting and many have started again. Change your attitude about quitting. Remember, every time you try to quit and the longer you go without smoking is a SUCCESS. To continue being successful KEEP QUITTING.
Fight temptation: Knowing your barriers to stopping smoking is important. Common barriers are family members and friends who still smoke and exposure to triggers for smoking such as stress and alcohol. Removing these barriers and changing your environment to avoid these triggers will make quitting easier.
Quit for a cause: Most of us know that cigarettes aren’t good for us. Looking in other places for motivation to quit smoking is important. Do it to save money, do it for the health of loved ones or do it for your own health. Find a reason you believe in to stop smoking.
How can my doctor help me quit?
Nicotine is an extremely addictive substance. When trying to quit, replacing cigarettes with a less dangerous source of nicotine is important. There are many over the counter choices to replace cigarettes” chewing gum, patches, nasal spray, inhalers and lozenges. Talk to your doctor about these and whether prescription medication can help you quit smoking. Also, your doctor can help direct you to community resources and support groups to help you quit smoking, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW and get on your way to a smoke free life.
- http://www.heart.org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@adv/documents/downloadable/ucm_301797.pdf