Smoking and

heart disease

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of deaths in the UK. Around one in three deaths every year are due to cardiovascular disease. Smoking is a leading cause of coronary heart disease and is linked to about 25,000 deaths per year. People who smoke are nearly twice as likely to have a heart attack as a non-smoker. For every cigarette smoked the risk of a non-fatal heart attack increases by 5.6%.

The chemicals in tobacco smoke can damage the lining of your coronary arteries, leading to the build-up of fatty deposits on the artery walls narrowing the artery. These chemicals also make the small particles in your blood – called platelets – more sticky, which means that the blood is more likely to form clots, which can block your arteries. This can cause angina, heart attacks or strokes.

Damage to the health of a smoker is caused by the tar, carbon monoxide and chemical compounds found in cigarette smoke. Inhaling tobacco smoke increases the heart rate, by as much as 30% during the first ten minutes of smoking. Nicotine stimulates the body to produce adrenaline, which makes the heart work faster and raises blood pressure. Carbon monoxide also reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen, meaning your heart has to pump harder, putting it under additional strain.

Stopping smoking is the single best thing you can do to protect your heart (Source: British Heart Foundation).

The earlier you stop smoking, the better, but quitting the habit will improve your health no matter what your age.

Stopping smoking can be difficult because of the way in which nicotine acts on the brain, but if you have heart disease stopping smoking is 36% more effective at preventing a fatal heart attack than other medical treatments. You will start to benefit the moment you stop smoking.

• After 20 minutes your blood pressure and pulse return to normal• After 24 hours carbon monoxide is eliminated from your body• After two days your body is nicotine-free and your sense of taste and smell improve• After three days you can breathe more easily, and your energy increases• After two to 12 weeks your circulation improves• After one year your heart attack risk is half that of a smoker

If you try to stop without support your chances are about one in 20. However you are four times more likely to quit successfully with support.

Useful links

British Heart Foundation – www.bhf.org.ukSmokefree NHS – www.nhs.uk/smokefree

CamqUit is a F R E E service providing advice, information and support to people who want to stop smoking.

Specialist advisors are based within all GP practices, many pharmacies, community-based CAMQUIT clinics and through the CAMQUIT telephone service.

One-to-one appointments with an advisor are available during the daytime and evening and appointments are for an average of 20 minutes.

What do stop smoking advisors do?• Offer specialist advice, support and encouragement to help people stop smoking for good• They listen and are non-judgemental• Support smokers to access medication which will improve their chances of success, such as Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), Zyban and Varenicline via NHS prescription

Your best chance of success is by getting support. You can do this by contacting your local GP or pharmacy or by calling CamqUit on:

0800 018 4304

www.camquit.nhs.uk