Smoking Cessation for the Heart
February 26, 2023
One lifestyle change can make a big difference to your heart health
Did you know that commercial tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the United States? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, smoking kills about 480,000 Americans each year, and roughly 1,600 young adults under the age of 18 try their first cigarette and around 200 end up smoking cigarettes every day.
Smoking can have a harmful impact on the body by leading to numerous diseases and disabilities. Smoking can lead to cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung disease, type 2 diabetes, and other serious health conditions. Even those who do not directly smoke can still be affected from second-hand smoke. This affects around 58 million individuals in the United States.
The effects of smoking on heart disease and stroke
Cigarette smoking is responsible for 1 in every 4 deaths from heart disease and stroke in the U.S., according to the CDC. Individuals who do not smoke directly but inhale second-hand smoke have a 25%-30% higher risk of heart disease and 20%-30% higher risk of stroke, especially if they are exposed as children. Smoking harms the body by:
- Damaging delicate tissues in the lungs and airways
- Increasing triglyceride levels
- Making blood more likely to clot, which can stop blood flow to the heart and brain
- Impairing cells that line blood vessels. This can cause a buildup of plaque in the blood vessels, which causes the vessels to thicken and narrow.
How can you make the change?
Smoking is listed as a modifiable risk factor, which means it can be changed through lifestyle changes. To successfully make the change:
- You need to want to stop smoking. You as an individual must want to make the change because no one else can do it for you.
- There needs to be a lifestyle change. For example, eating a healthy snack or chewing gum to ease the urge to smoke.
- The lifestyle change must continue and be consistent. The change has to become a part of your everyday life and integrated into your day-to-day routine.
- You need social support. This can be from any person in your life (i.e. friends, family, health professionals). It is important to have someone to talk to during challenging times.
How can St. Mary’s help you?
Todd Drake, an ex-smoker who is a registered respiratory therapist and St. Mary’s cardiopulmonary rehabilitation coordinator, leads Freedom From Smoking cessation classes. These classes focus on making lifestyle changes to better help your heart. Freedom From Smoking works for many people because it is personalized to the individual and their specific needs and goals. Sign up for St. Mary’s Freedom From Smoking classes today to live a better life for you and your heart!
The next Freedom from Smoking class will be held on Tuesdays, April 11 through May 23, at 6 p.m. at St. Mary’s Outpatient Diagnostic, Rehab and Wellness Center, 2470 Daniells Bridge Road, Building 300. The class, developed by the American Lung Association, includes eight sessions and features a step-by-step plan for breaking free from tobacco.
Not ready to commit to an eight-week series?
Check out St. Mary’s free Healthy Heart Living classes on the first Tuesday of every month. Each class gives a quick overview of diabetes, nutrition, medication safety, smoking cessation and early heart attack care. Come for one session or stay for the whole class.
Learn more: Call Todd Drake at (706) 389-2915.