Heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women in the USA and other western countries. You can take action to reduce heart disease. Heart disease is in fact any condition that affects the heart (cardio) or the blood vessels (vascular). The cardiovascular diseases you may be most aware of are heart attack and stroke. You can take heart though as smoking is on the decline in numerous parts of the world including the UK which now has a total ban on smoking in public places, and you, too, can find a way to quit.

Cigarette smoking is the major cause of heart diseases, such as heart attack, stroke, and other vascular diseases.

Important Heart Disease Facts Due to Smoking:

Nicotine causes increases in blood pressure as the carbon monoxide makes the heart beat quicker and takes the place of oxygen in the blood.

Tobacco contains more then 4,000 chemicals, many of which are known to be poisonous to humans.

Tar in tobacco is well known as a cause of cancer, which can be a fatal disease.

Smoking for prolonged periods will cause clogging of the arteries, which in turn leads to heart attacks from working the heart too hard by reducing its oxygen supply. Clots are also more likely to form in the blood vessels raising the risk of potentially fatal changes in the heart beat.

Regular, long-time smokers have a 70% larger risk of death from coronary heart disease than non-smokers.

80% of new smokers are children and adolescents who are trying to copy adults or to appear "cool" to their peer group.

Passive smoking is another major cause of heart disease, and those non smokers who inhale smoke from others are at direct risk. If you live with a regular smoker it will increase your risk of heart disease by 30%. Inhaling others smoke is especially hazardous for children and unborn babies by pregnant women and contributes to low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma, and middle ear infections.

Stop Smoking to Improve Your Health and Increase Your

Life Span

Many people smoke to cope with stress, lose weight, because of poor self-esteem, or simply to fit in with their friend's circle. Most new smokers obtain their first cigarette from someone else or find it readily available around the house from a smoking adult.

Getting Help

If you think you cannot quit smoking with just plain will power and if you are a heavy smoker, try to get some help before you start.

Check your doctor first and see what course of action they recommend. In many cases your Doctor can prescribe Nicotine patches, pills or chewing gums are a great substitute. If you can try to give up with a friend or a group.

Smoking can cause you and those who live close to you that inhale your smoke to die early by causing heart disease and cancer. That should be reason enough to give up smoking. Enjoy a healthier lifestyle and stop exposing your family and loved ones to passive smoking.