Help your heart by quitting commercial tobacco use
February is American Heart Month, a time to think about ways we can help our heart health. Eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, and health proteins are ways to take care of the heart, but one of the best ways is quitting commercial tobacco and nicotine products like cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and oral nicotine lozenges and vaping.
“Smoking and vaping is a major driver of heart disease and is responsible for one in every four heart disease deaths” said Donna Wiegert, Public Health Nurse, Langlade County Health Department. Heart harms of smoking include a rise in triglycerides (a type of fat in your blood), making blood more sticky and likely to clot, and thickening and narrowing of blood vessels.
However, quitting smoking reduces your risk of heart disease and can even reduce the risk of a heart attack or dying from heart disease even if you already have it. The benefits of quitting start quickly and increase with time. 1 to 2 years after quitting, the risk of heart attack drops sharply. After 3-6 years the added risk of coronary heart disease drops by half.
Quitting smoking doesn’t just help heart health though, it also:
· lowers the risk of 12 types of cancer
· improves health and increases life expectancy
· lowers the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Free quit counseling and medications are available through the Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669). You can also get quit tips at: wisconsin.gov/tobacco/treatment.htm. For your heart and the hearts of those who love you, call the 1-800-QUIT-NOW today and begin your smoke-free journey.
