Quitting Smoking Minimizes Risks of Coronary Thrombosis
The message that "smoking is bad for you" has circulated for decades. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, smoking was actually thought to be good for you; however, it did not take very long for modern medical science to determine just how wrong this perception was. Smoking is not only "bad for you," it's deadly. Smoking kills in myriad ways and is responsible for more deaths around the world than AIDS, traffic accidents, drug use and breast cancer combined. Those frightening statistics should open your eyes to the horror that comes from smoking; quit smoking now is imperative.
One of the most subtle, insidious health risks caused by smoking is the risk of coronary thrombosis. While cancer, lung disorders, high blood pressure and an increased risk of stroke have long been associated with smoking, coronary thrombosis is more frightening, in many ways. What is this disease? How does it affect your life? How can quitting smoking help you safeguard your body from the ravages of smoking-related diseases?
Coronary thrombosis is caused by atherosclerosis, a condition in which cholesterol builds up on the artery walls, hardening, damming the flow of blood. Your arteries become narrower, the blood flow restricted. Coronary thrombosis (heart attack) occurs when this plaque ruptures and a clot forms in the artery, blocking the flow of blood completely. Thrombosis is the name given to the clot, or blockage in the coronary artery.
Coronary artery disease (a precursor to coronary thrombosis) is one of the leading preventable killers in the world. Smoking-related heart attacks are among the most easily avoided deaths. Smoking, while only one of the risk factors in coronary thrombosis, is one of the easiest factors to eliminate and one that has the most impact on your continued health. Quitting smoking can help minimize your risk of coronary artery disease, even if you have other factors. Quit smoking
In short, quitting smoking is the single most important thing you can do to help avoid coronary thrombosis and possible death. Heart attacks kill hundreds of thousands each year; kicking the habit can help keep you from being just another casualty.
should be your first step in eliminating these factors, followed by reducing your cholesterol levels (something not possible while smoking), reducing blood pressure (also not possible while smoking), losing weight (difficult while smoking), reducing stress and dealing with diabetes.