One of the best ways to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease is to avoid secondhand smoke. Never start smoking. If you smoke, get out. No matter how much or how long you smoke, quitting will benefit you. Also, try to avoid secondhand smoke. Do not go to places where smoking is allowed. Ask friends and family members not to smoke in homes and cars. Leaking Heart Medicine.
Quitting smoking will benefit your heart and blood vessels. As an example:
Among people diagnosed with coronary heart disease, quitting smoking greatly reduces the risk of recurrent heart attacks and cardiovascular death. In many studies, this risk reduction has been as high as 50 percent or more.
The risk of heart disease associated with smoking begins to decrease as soon as you quit smoking, and for many people continues to decline over time.
The risk of atherosclerosis and smoking-related blood clots decreases over time after you quit smoking.
Quitting smoking can lower your risk of heart disease as much as, or more than, traditional medicines used to lower your risk of heart disease, including aspirin, statins, beta blockers, and ACE inhibitors.
Strategies to Quit Smoking.
Quitting smoking is possible, but it can be difficult. Millions of people have quit smoking successfully and remain non-smokers. The current survey of adult smokers found that 70 percent said they wanted to quit smoking.
There are several ways to quit smoking, including quitting all at once (going “cold turkey’) or slowly reducing the number of cigarettes you smoke before quitting completely. Use the method that works best for you. Here are some strategies to help you quit.
Ready To Quit
If you want to quit smoking, try to be motivated. Make a list of reasons why you want to quit. Write yourself a contract outlining your plan to quit smoking.
If you have tried to quit smoking in the past, think about it. What helped you during that time, and what made it more difficult?
Know what triggers you to smoke. For example, do you smoke after eating, while driving, or when you are stressed? Develop a plan to deal with each trigger.
Get Support
Set a quit date, and let those close to you know about it. Ask your family and friends to support your efforts to quit smoking.
Get Medication and Use It Correctly
Talk to your doctor and pharmacist about over-the-counter medications and products that can help you quit smoking. These drugs and products are of great help to many people.
You can buy nicotine gum, patches, and lozenges from drug stores. Other drugs that can help you quit smoking are available by prescription.
Learn New Skills and Behaviors
Try a new activity to replace cigarettes. For example, instead of smoking after eating, take a brisk walk in the neighborhood or around your office building. Take up knitting, carpentry, or any other hobby and activity that keeps your hands busy. Try to avoid other people who smoke. Ask the people you can’t avoid to respect your efforts to quit smoking and not smoke around you.
Remove cigarettes, ashtrays and lighters from your home, office and car. Don’t smoke at all—not even one. Also, try to avoid alcohol and caffeine. (People who drink alcohol are more likely to start smoking again after quitting.)
Prepared for Withdrawal and Relapse
Get ready for a withdrawal challenge. Withdrawal symptoms often subside after only 1 or 2 weeks of not smoking, and each urge to smoke lasts only a few minutes.
You can take steps to manage withdrawal symptoms. If you feel like smoking, wait a few minutes for the urge to pass. Remind yourself of the benefits of quitting smoking. Don’t be overwhelmed – take tasks one step at a time.
If you have a relapse (slipping and smoking after you quit), consider what caused the slip. Are you stressed or unprepared for the situation you associate with smoking? Make a plan to avoid or deal with this situation in the future.
Getting frustrated with your slippage will only make it harder to quit in the future. Accept that you are slipping, learn from slips, and prepare to quit smoking.
If you start smoking regularly again, don’t be discouraged. Instead, figure out what you need to do to get back on track so you can meet your goals. Set a new exit date, and ask your family and friends to help you out. Most people who smoke repeatedly try to quit before doing so successfully.