Why does smoking hurt your heart?

If you don’t smoke, chances are someone close to you does. Kentucky leads the nation in smoking, with one in three Kentuckians lighting up. Not surprisingly, Kentucky also has a high rate of heart disease, with Ballard, Crittenden and Carlisle counties ranking in the state’s top 10.

Not smoking is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of heart disease. With smoking now banned in a growing number of cities and places, including Paducah restaurants, smokers may be looking for ways to kick the habit.

How does smoking affect heart disease?
Smokers are two to four times more likely to develop heart disease because smoking:

• Hampers blood circulation by narrowing blood vessels and reducing blood supply to the heart. This can lead to heart attacks and irregular heartbeats.
• Reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood.
• Promotes plaque buildup in the arteries.
• Makes blood clots more likely to occur.

When you decide to quit
If you’re ready to quit:

• Ask your doctor about smoking-cessation aids that might be right for you. Prescription medicines bupropion and varenicline are safe and effective for many heart patients. The nicotine patch also has been shown to be safe for people with coronary artery disease.
• Be prepared when you quit. Carry sugarless gum or mints with you as “standins” for cigarettes. And avoid people and places that you associate with smoking.
• If you slip, get back on track right away. Think about why you had a cigarette and consider how you can handle the temptation in the future.

The benefits of quitting
Once you quit smoking, you’ll notice the benefits almost immediately. Your senses of taste and smell will improve. You’ll breathe easier and feel better.

According to a recent study in the American Journal of Medicine, the health risks begin to drop within just one month after quitting. Other research shows that heart risks continue to drop as long as smokers don’t start up again.

Class for quitters
Western Baptist co-sponsors the Cooper Clayton Method to Stop Smoking, one of the most effective smoking-cessation classes available. The 13-week program meets weekly and costs just $10 for books. To register or for more information, phone (270) 443-1310.

To learn more about the risk factors, symptoms and treatment for heart disease, visit westernbaptist.com/heart. You can take a free, five-minute online heart risk survey and become eligible for reduced-cost cardiac screenings at Baptist Prime Care. You also may phone Baptist Health Line at (270) 575-2918.

Do you have a cardiac question tugging at your heart? Send it to heartbeat@bhsi.com or mail it to HeartBeat, 2501 Kentucky Ave., Paducah, KY  42003. If we use it in a future HeartBeat column, you will win a Baptist Heart Center T-shirt.