Smoking Contributes to Bad Cholesterol
- Posted on: Oct 15 2018
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Back in the “good old days,” times seemed more simple. You could smoke in restaurants, on airplanes, and pretty much anywhere you could go. It seems crazy now, but that’s how it was. By now, it’s pretty common knowledge that smoking damages our bodies in many ways. In fact, every time you inhale cigarette smoke, your heart rate and blood pressure go up for a little while. That puts extra stress on your heart and forces it to work harder. Even worse, smoking impacts those around us, too. Keep reading to learn more about smoking and why giving it up is the best thing you can do this holiday season.
One of the biggest ways smoking impacts our health is over the long term. Over time it:
- Thickens the blood
- Weakens bones
- Clogs the arteries
- Increases clotting
- Fills the lungs with tar
- Increases inflammation
- Weakens the immune system
Plus, did you know that one third of deaths due to cardiovascular disease actually come from smoking? Smoking increases the risk of coronary heart disease, but if you have other risk factors, it can be incredibly dangerous. For example, if you smoke, you may be less likely to exercise, or have a lower tolerance for physical activity. Thus, your risk of developing serious disease has increased.
Smokers have a higher risk of developing many chronic disorders, including atherosclerosis, aortic aneurysm, heart attack, peripheral artery disease and stroke. The good news is that quitting can lower your risk of these diseases. After just three weeks of not smoking, your HDL levels can increase by up to 30 percent, and your risk of heart attack drops by up to 30 percent after a year of quitting.
Ready to take the plunge? Florida has a hotline to help you quit: 1-877-U-Can-Now. Counseling sessions, self help materials, translation for other languages and TDD service for hearing impaired are all available through this amazing service.
If you’re ready to learn more about smoking and your cholesterol, call us today at (407) 767-8554 to schedule a consultation. We want to help you stay healthy, so start making better choices today!
Posted in: Heart Health
