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Stop Smoking
Smoking makes the smooth lining of blood vessels rough. This encourages the build up of atheroma, the fatty material that narrows and blocks blood vessels.
Smoking increases the amount of fibrinogen in the blood and makes blood stickier. This increases the chance of blood clots forming that can cause strokes.
Smoking also increase blood pressure and speeds up the heart.
Apart from the increased likelihood of strokes and heart disease, there is also damage done to the lungs causing chronic lung disease and the risk of many cancers are increased from poisons in the blood. Smoking multiplies other risks you may have. From the moment you stop smoking, your risk starts to decline.
Nobody is saying stopping smoking is easy. There are all sorts of reasons why people smoke apart from addiction to nicotine even though they know it is doing them harm.
How To Stop
- decide that you really want to stop
- benefits or reasons could be freedom from an addictive habit, your health, smelly breath, bad role model for children
- prepare to stop
- expect to put on a bit of weight, work out your smoking habits and be ready to change your routine
- set a date and stick to it
- tell family and friends and ask for their support
- seek professional help
- call Smokeline 0800 84 84 84—open noon to midnight—for telephone advice/support for you and/or your family and friends. Ask for a free copy of their helpful guide to stopping smoking.
- ask doctor about smoking cessation support
- ask your chemist or doctor about nicotine replacement therapy
Recreational Drug Taking
Cannabis and cocaine in particular are known to raise blood pressure and so increase risk of heart attacks and strokes.
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