The Unspoken Truth: Effects of Tobacco Use on Men’s Heart and Overall Health
During this Men’s Health Month, we want to focus on the health impacts of tobacco products. Tobacco use remains a significant threat – especially for men. Men use tobacco products at a much higher rate than women, and every year more than 278,544 men die from a smoking-related sicknesses.
What effect does it have on your body?
Tobacco smoke contains various chemicals, which can lead to serious cancers, such as of the lungs and/or throat.
It can cause damage to your blood vessels, raise your blood pressure, and lower your tolerance to exercise. Smoking can lower the amount of oxygen your blood can carry to your heart, which makes your blood more likely to clot, and possibly lead to a heart attack or stroke. It can increase your risk of death from heart disease. Because it causes blood vessels to narrow, it can also lead to erectile dysfunction.
What steps can you take and how?
It is never too late to quit using tobacco products and taking that step has many health benefits. It can lower your risk for at least 12 different cancers, significantly reduce your chance of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Even if you have been diagnosed with heart disease, quitting the use of tobacco can still improve your health and may reverse some of the damage caused.
Some steps you can take to help you with quitting can include:
- Set a quit date. Choose a specific date of when you will quit using tobacco products. Making a pledge or commitment, especially in front of supportive friends or family can increase your motivation and the success of your journey.
- Decide how you will quit. You can quit “cold turkey “or by gradually cutting down on the number of cigarettes or other tobacco products you use. For instance, if you smoke 10 cigarettes a day, cut down to 5 per day, then 3 per day, followed by 1 per day, until you reach your quit day and completely stop.
- Talk with your health care provider. Your provider can help you determine if you may need medication or other treatments to help you quit.
- Prepare for your quit day and move forward. Plan ahead by keeping healthy snacks available such as sugar-free mints or gum, nuts and seeds, popcorn, or fruits and vegetables. Having snacks on hand can help manage your cravings and keep both your hands and mouth busy.
For more information about tobacco, cardiovascular health, and local resources, check out our website at https://gethealthyclarkcounty.org.
