Nicotine restricts blood vessels and raises blood pressure. Although smokers think smoking relaxes them, it actually makes their hearts work harder to pump blood to all parts of their bodies. Smoking may also cause artery damage, which increases plaque build-up and makes arteries less flexible.
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Here are a few ideas to try:
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Quitting is not easy
Smoking is a strong and serious addiction. Most smokers have tried to stop many times. In addition to its other carcinogenic (cancer-causing) effects, smoking raises blood pressure. When you quit smoking, your blood pressure will start to go down within the first day!
Either quit "cold turkey" or taper off
When your quit date arrives, quit. Many people find this the best way to stop. Use your survival kit and especially your "Quit Smoking Buddy" to help you through the rough days of initial withdrawal.
Week by week
Week 1: Cut down by 50 percent (e.g., from 40 to 20 cigarettes a day).
Week 2: Cut down by 50 percent again (e.g., from 20 to 10).
Week 3: Allow yourself one smoke every two hours… Waiting for the clock to tick off two hours will help strengthen your resolve.
Week 4: You may smoke one cigarette every four hours.
Week 5: You stop altogether. In this way you give yourself a whole month to adjust.
What if you relapse?
What happens if you start again after a few days or weeks or months? Relapse is common. Don’t give up. The risks associated with smoking are great, so it is certainly worth your time and effort to come up with smoke free for a while, you get stronger and smarter.
More information
Need an in-depth guide to help you quit smoking? Check out lifeclinic.com's Quit Smoking Area.
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