It’s now a commonly-accepted fact that smoking can lead to cancer and cardiovascular disease. So why do some heart attack survivors continue to smoke after their first heart attack?
According to a recent study, nearly 30% of adults with a history of these heart problems smoked when a five-year study began in 2013. Fewer were smoking four years later, but 20% were still using tobacco products at the end of the review.
However, nearly 96% of study participants knew that smoking could cause heart disease. Although there are many steps to preventing a heart attack, smoking cessation is an essential one. If you are struggling to quit smoking, try these tips.
Know Your Why
This might be the easiest step. Determine why you want to stop smoking. Lessening your risk for cardiovascular disease or avoiding a second heart attack is a great reason, but it may not seem urgent enough.
You May Also Like
Connect it to something more intimate to you. Maybe you want to set a better example for those around you.
Perhaps you want to avoid sickness in order to be more present in your later life. Anything that impacts you greatly is a good motivator. Knowing your why helps to keep you on track and provide a weighty incentive.
Be Prepared & Talk to Your Doctor
All successful plans require preparation and research, but you don’t have to do it alone. Talk with your primary care provider (PCP) and describe your situation.
Tell them your ‘why’ and ask for their advice. Your PCP can give medically accurate information and provide resources to different cessation programs and resources. Once you have the resources from your doctor, do your own research.
