Kill That Light

Remember what the surgeon general said about smoking? Consider these stats and facts before you think of lighting your next cigarette.

1. Smoking increases your risk of getting heart disease three to six times more than if you didn't.
2. Those who smoke more than two packs a day have almost four times greater the risk of getting a heart attack compared to nonsmokers.
3. Smoking hastens the accumulation of cholesterol and fats in coronary arteries, accelerates the heart rate, raises blood pressure and decreases the oxygen your heart muscles get.

The good new for smokers is that quitting can reduce the risk of getting heart disease to almost the same as the nonsmoker. Also, you have greater chances of surviving an attack once you quit. Aside from smoking, other facts that contribute to coronary diseases are the following: high cholesterol level in the blood, high blood pressure, diabetes, lack of exercise, obesity, stress and family history of coronary artery disease.

You may not be able to change your heredity, BUT you can control the other factors for a healthier heart.


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