Most people think of smoking as only affecting the lungs. However, this is not the case.

In fact, smoking can negatively impact every part of your body—from your brain and your eyes down to your feet.

During American Heart Month this February, our team at AFC Urgent Care Warrington wants to share some information about how smoking affects your heart health. Read on as we take a look!

How Does Smoking Affect Your Heart?

Smoking negatively impacts your heart health in a number of ways. When you smoke, your heart rate increases, your heart beat may become erratic, your blood pressure increases and your artery walls may be damaged.

Over time, this can cause your heart to operate less efficiently, making it work harder to pump oxygenated blood throughout the body. This puts you at risk of a number of heart health conditions, including heart disease.

Types of Cardiovascular Disease

• Coronary heart disease
• Hypertension
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Aneurysms

What Are the Benefits of Quitting Smoking?

There are so many benefits that we don’t even have the space to outline them all here! But let’s talk through a few—many of which are nearly immediate after you quit smoking.

Within 20 minutes after your last cigarette, your heart rate and blood pressure return to normal. Within the first few months after you quit, your blood begins flowing more efficiently. A year after you quit, your risk of heart disease is half that of a smoker.

Smoking Cessation Tips

• Find your reason to stay motivated, especially during your bad days.
• Create a plan for quitting.
• Consider nicotine replacement therapy.
• Give yourself a break.
• Lean on loved ones.
• Avoid alcohol and other triggers that might cause you to smoke.
• Find healthy ways to handle stress.

Looking for other ways to improve your heart health? Start with a checkup! Visit our medical team at AFC Urgent Care Warrington today—no appointment is needed.