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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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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.
Do you have any friends or family who have quit smoking? Ask what worked and what did not work for them. Join support groups around you, either locally or on social media. If you are currently in therapy, inform your therapist about this change and talk through it.
Also decide if you want to use nicotine replacement therapy, find out what forms you want to use. There are patches, gums, and lozenges available that can help curb the urge.
Realize that the nicotine in cigarettes is addictive. While this won’t be an easy battle, it will be worth it. However, to win a battle, you need to be prepared.
Find Other Ways to Relax
Most people smoke as a way to relax and decompress. The chemicals in cigarettes and the physical act of smoking is comforting to smokers.
In order to successfully curb this habit, you need to find replacements for it in all areas of your life. Not that you stopped smoking, what other ways can you relax? Try taking a hot bath or practicing meditation.
Get a fidget spinner if you need to keep your hands busy. Avoid adopting other unhealthy coping mechanisms like alcohol or drugs in order to relax - that is only getting rid of one harmful vice to adopt another.
Stay Active
Adopting a healthy lifestyle is beneficial no matter the situation. However, an active body eases an active mind.
Instead of focusing on how badly your body wants a cigarette, keep your body active. Go for a walk with a friend, play basketball with your children, or go for a swim.
Not only will this keep you busy, but it will improve your overall mood. Nicotine withdrawal can cause irritation, but finding ways to relax and stay active can combat this.
Quitting smoking is a hard task. However, it’s one of the most rewarding challenges to overcome. Not only will this protect your health, but it can promote future healthy habits. If you want to prevent your next heart attack, consider smoking cessation as a perfect opportunity to do so.
