BLOOMINGTON – February is also known as National Heart Month. Make it the month you quit tobacco for your own heart health and for the people you love.
“Most people think of lung cancer when considering the negative side effects of cigarettes, but smoking damages the heart and blood vessels as well, increasing a person’s risk of heart disease and stroke,” said IU Health Community Health Tobacco Prevention Coordinator Kristen Terry. “The American Cancer Society (ACS) reports that smokeless tobacco has also been linked to a higher risk of death from heart disease and stroke.”
One of the best things to do for your heart health is quit tobacco. Here are some heart-related cessation facts from the ACS:
- Within minutes of quitting, your heart rate drops.
- Your risk of heart attack drops dramatically 1 – 2 years after quitting.
- Coronary heart disease risk is close to that of a nonsmoker 15 years after quitting.
“Quitting tobacco can help you live longer while being healthier, which means more quality time can be spent with your loved ones,” added Terry. “Smoking cessation can also reduce the risk of your loved ones being exposed to the hazardous chemicals found in second- and third-hand smoke.”
This tobacco cessation expert also shared that the odds of long-term tobacco cessation success increases when the person has a good support system and quit plan.
Call 1-800-Quit-Now for help from a trained quit coach and to get started on a quit plan if you don’t already have one. You can also call this number for free, evidence-based tobacco cessation support. Visit QuitNowIndiana.com to learn more.
For local tobacco prevention and control efforts, visit the Tobacco Free Coalition of Monroe County on Facebook.
