Tobacco and Your Heart

1

• You know smoking harms your lungs, but did you
  know it can be just as hard on your heart?
• Smoking can cause major damage to your entire
  cardiovascular system, including your
• blood cells
• blood vessels
• heart tissues
• veins
• arteries1

2

• Only 15 of the U.S. population smokes
  cigarettes, yet smoking is the 1 cause of
  preventable death in the United States.2
• Smoking leads to more than 480,000 fatalities
  every year.
• Secondhand smoke alone causes approximately
  41,000 annual deaths.2
• That makes cigarettes a greater public health
  danger than alcohol, illegal drugs, car
  accidents, guns and HIV combined.3
• Smoking can shorten a mans life by 12 years and
  a womans life by 11 years.3
• Cigarettes burn over 7,000 chemicals, including
  acetone, which is used in nail polish remover,
  and butane, which is used in lighter fluid.4

3

• Its not just cigarettes either. Any type of
  tobacco use can damage the cardiovascular system.
  
• That includes cigars, pipes and chewing tobacco.
• The health dangers increase if you combine
  tobacco use with other risk factors such as
• Obesity
• Lack of exercise
• Diabetes
• Oral contraceptives

4

• Numbers only tell us so much. Each one represents
  a life cut short because of tobacco.
• Take the case of Brian, who started smoking when
  he was 12 years old.
• By the time he was 35, he had a major heart
  attack that put him in the hospital.
• He continued to smoke until he damaged his heart
  beyond repair, requiring a full transplant.
• His story is one of many real-life tragedies that
  involve smoking and heart disease.

5

• Tobacco use increases a persons risk of
• Hypertension High blood pressure caused by
  nicotine
• Blood Clots Increased blood clotting caused by
  nicotine
• Damaged Blood Vessel Damage to the lining of the
  blood vessels
• Atherosclerosis Plaque buildup in the arteries
  that leads narrowing of the vessels and
  restricted blood flow
• Arrhythmias Abnormal heart rhythms (e.g. fast
  heartbeats, slow heartbeats, skipped beats, etc.)1

6

• Smoking can also lead to serious, even fatal
  conditions such as
• Coronary Heart Disease Plaque buildup in the
  arteries of the heart
• Peripheral Arterial Disease Plaque buildup in
  the blood vessels that carry oxygen from the
  heart to the rest of the body
• Heart Failure The heart muscles are unable to
  pump enough blood to meet the bodys needs
• Heart Attack Blocked blood flow to the heart
• Aortic Aneurysm Enlargement of the aorta, the
  bodys main artery
• Stroke Interruption of blood supply to the
  brain1

7

• How do you lower your risk of serious
  cardiovascular disease?
• The best way is to never start smoking in the
  first place.
• If you already use tobacco, there is only one
  solution quit.
• Its never too late to make healthy choices that
  can increase your quality of life, not to mention
  your life expectancy.
• According to researchers, those who have suffered
  a heart attack can reduce their risk of death by
  up to 36 over the course of two years just by
  quitting.5

8

• The best way to prevent cardiovascular disease is
  to educate yourself about the causes, signs and
  symptoms.
• The next step is to schedule an appointment with
  a cardiologist for consultation and examination.
• The longer you wait, the greater the chance
  youll need cardiac surgery to correct serious
  problems with your heart or blood vessels.
• Need help?
• At Crystal Run Healthcare, we continually provide
  resources, such as classes and educational
  videos, that can help people quit any tobacco
  habit.

9

• Crystal Run Healthcare is dedicated to providing
  first-class medical care throughout the state of
  New York. Our heart specialists work closely with
  patients to prevent disease, diagnose problems
  early and provide effective treatment, which may
  include anything from lifestyle changes to
  cardiothoracic surgery.
• Find a cardiologist or cardiovascular surgeon who
  can help you get your health back on track. You
  can easily book an appointment with many of our
  physicians online.

10

• https//www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/smoking-a
  nd-your-heart
• https//www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/resource
  s/data/cigarette-smoking-in-united-states.html
• https//www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/tobacc
  o-and-cancer/health-risks-of-smoking-tobacco.html
  
• http//www.lung.org/stop-smoking/smoking-facts/wha
  ts-in-a-cigarette.html
• https//academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/34/42/3
  259/519402

11
Summary

• At Crystal Run Healthcare, we believe the best
  cure is prevention. Thats why we not only treat
  cardiovascular disease once it develops, we also
  do everything we can to stop it before it becomes
  a life-threatening problem. If you smoke, its
  important to see a cardiologist who can assess
  your risk factors, identify any existing
  problems, and develop strategies to help you stay
  tobacco free for the rest of your life.