If you have considered
the negative effects of smoking, of course you know that cigarettes spend your
money, make your clothes smell of smoke, teeth and nails turn yellow, and increase
the risk of cancer. And remember that smoking can also increase the chance of
having a heart attack whose effects may not be seen until eventually the
disease develops and it's too late to do prevention.
Coronary heart disease is
a form of cardiovascular disease. In fact, it is estimated that smoking can
increase the risk of heart disease by up to 4 times compared to non-smokers. In
addition, according to the National Cancer Institute, people who smoke are 6
times more prone to heart attacks.
Even though you may know
that smoking can cause lung cancer, the negative effects of bad habits are far
more dangerous.
Smoking and tobacco use
can cause various diseases and health problems, while reducing the health of
the smoker. In addition, smoking has proven to be a cause of damage to almost
every organ of the body, including the heart.
The good news is that
smoking is the most avoided cause of premature death in the United States
according to the American Heart Association.
In other words, digging
deeper into the relationship between smoking and heart disease - and stopping
as soon as possible - can be a life-saving step.
How do cigarettes cause heart disease?
Smoking can cause the
lining of the arteries to break down, the artery walls to thicken, and fat
buildup and plaques occur that block blood flow along the arteries.
The occurrence of fat
accumulation in the arteries is called atherosclerosis. When the arteries that
supply blood to the heart experience constriction, the blood supply that is
rich in oxygen to the heart will decrease which can lead to coronary heart
disease.
Narrowing of the arteries
will be very dangerous during physical activity. The heart that continues to be
forced to work pumping can cause chest pain or even a heart attack (in the case
of a complete blockage of the arteries).
What can increase the risk of a heart attack?
Smoking is never labeled
"safe" and the more cigarettes you smoke, the greater your risk of a
heart attack.
Smoking itself is
actually a risk factor for heart disease and heart attacks, but when smoking is
accompanied by the following factors, even your risk will increase:
•
Family history of heart disease
•
High cholesterol
•
High blood pressure
•
Diabetes
•
Not active, overweight or obese
Women who smoke and use
birth control pills, the risk of heart disease will also increase. Studies show
that women who use high-dose birth control pills (oral contraceptives) are at
greater risk of heart attack or stroke.
Many oral contraceptives
increase the risk of blood clots, and smoking actually supports the formation
of blood clots in blood vessels.
Can passive smokers get heart disease?
Even cigarette smoke can
cause heart problems, depending on how much you are exposed to cigarette smoke.
There is a clear
correlation between cigarette smoke (the smoke you breathe when you are close
to other people who smoke) with cardiovascular disease.
Those who are regularly
exposed to cigarette smoke experience an increased risk of heart disease that
develops up to 30% and nearly 40,000 people die each year from heart and blood
vessel disease caused by cigarette smoke.
Therefore, stopping not
only helps yourself — but also helps the people around you.
Also, if you live
together or spend a lot of time with a smoker, this is a reason to try to help
him stop.
How to prevent heart disease?
Diet and exercise are
important factors in keeping blood flowing well and the heart remains healthy.
However, if you are a smoker, a healthy diet and regular exercise are not
enough to protect you from long-term effects, including heart disease.
If you are a smoker, you
can take steps to control or prevent future heart disease by quitting smoking
early.
Reducing the number of
cigarettes you suck slowly can reduce the risk of heart problems.
Try to reduce the number
of cigarettes every day, then determine the date of stopping. You will look
better, feel better, and maybe even live longer.
If you are exposed to cigarette
smoke regularly, you can reduce your risk of heart disease by avoiding an
environment where other people are smoking.
Quitting smoking can
reduce your risk by up to half the rate of recurrent heart attacks and deaths
from heart disease, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Take the next step:
improve your health to prolong life.
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