Quitting smoking is a gift to yourself. It's one of the best things you can do to keep your heart disease from getting worse. Smoking reduces oxygen flow to your heart. It does this in two ways. It speeds the buildup of plaque along the artery walls. And it changes the health of your blood vessels. This raises your risk for heart attack, also known as acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Quitting helps reduce smoking's harmful effects. You may have tried to quit before, but don’t give up. Try again. Many smokers try a few times before they succeed. It's never too early to benefit from quitting smoking. This is especially true if you already have ongoing (chronic) conditions, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. These put you at higher risk for cardiovascular disease. Quitting smoking is a powerful way to reduce your risk for coronary disease.
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Start by giving up cigarettes at the times you least need them.
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Keep some fruit close by at the times you are most likely to reach for a cigarette. For many people, smoking has an oral fixation component. This must be recognized and replaced by a healthy habit.
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Use a nicotine replacement product instead of a cigarette.