Smoking and Cardiovascular Disease: A Ticking Time Bomb for Your Heart

Smoking is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), which includes heart disease, stroke, and peripheral artery disease. In fact, smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, and it is responsible for nearly one in every five deaths.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smoking is responsible for:

480,000 deaths per year in the United States

1 in 5 deaths overall

1 in 3 deaths from CVD

Smoking damages the heart and blood vessels in several ways. It increases inflammation, damages the lining of the arteries, and promotes the formation of blood clots. These changes can lead to a buildup of plaque in the arteries, which can narrow the arteries and restrict blood flow to the heart and brain.

Get Help Quitting Today

If you're a smoker, quitting is the best thing you can do for your heart health. Quitting smoking can reduce your risk of CVD by 50% within just one year.

There are many resources available to help you quit smoking, including:

The National Cancer Institute's SmokefreeTXT program

The CDC's SmokefreeTXT program

The National Jewish Health's Quitline

Your doctor or other healthcare provider

Resource	Website	Phone Number
National Cancer Institute's SmokefreeTXT program	https://smokefree.gov/smokefreeTXT	Text QUIT to 47848
CDC's SmokefreeTXT program	https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/quit-smoking/services/sms-quit-lines.html	Text QUIT to 47848
National Jewish Health's Quitline	https://www.njhealth.org/services/tobacco-cessation-program	1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669)

Success Stories

After quitting smoking, a 50-year-old man reduced his risk of heart disease by 50%.

A 40-year-old woman who quit smoking reduced her risk of stroke by 30%.

A 30-year-old man who quit smoking improved his overall health and well-being.

Conclusion

If you're a smoker, quitting is the best thing you can do for your heart health. There are many resources available to help you quit, so don't wait any longer. Quitting smoking today will improve your health and reduce your risk of CVD.

Smoking and Cardiovascular Disease: A Ticking Time Bomb for Your Heart