Heart Attack and Smoking Cessation

Cigarette smokers are twice as likely as nonsmokers to have a heart attack and are more likely to die from a heart attack than nonsmokers. Patients who continue to smoke in the presence of already established coronary heart disease are at increased risk for repeated heart attack and sudden cardiac death. So, if you're at risk for a heart attack or have already have one, you should seriously consider quitting.

Quitting smoking improves heart health, decreases your likelihood of having a heart attack, and increases the likelihood that you'll survive if you do have a heart attack.

Read more details about Smoking Cessation.

There are a number of ways to quit smoking. For more information and tips, see the Smoking Cessation article.

You don't have to quit alone. In fact, quitting with a friend or loved one can increase both of your chances for success.

A number of different health professionals may have different methods and products that can support you in quitting smoking.

• MD
• Naturopathic doctor
• Acupuncturist
• Herbalist
• Nutritionist
• Health coach

Using behavior change to quit smoking should have few or no side effects, aside from the symptoms of withdrawal. Because smoking affects metabolism and may be a replacement for eating, some people do find that they gain weight when they quit. Make sure that you are eating well and exercising to help bring your body back to a healthy balance.

On the other hand, smoking cessation drugs and other drugs used to help people quit smoking all have potential risks and side effects. This is true for over-the-counter as well as prescription products. For instance, smoking and using nicotine replacement products can be dangerous because nicotine can build up to toxic levels.

See individual products for specific information on side effects, warnings, and potential interactions.

American Lung Association website. Available at: http://www.lungusa.org/. Accessed July 15, 2008.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/. Accessed July 15, 2008.

National Cancer Institute website. Available at: http://www.cancer.gov/. Accessed July 15, 2008.

3/25/2008 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php : Parkes G, Greenhalgh T, Griffin M, Dent R. Effect on smoking quit rate of telling patients their lung age: the Step2quit randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2008;336:598-600.

7/6/2009 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php : Myung SK, McDonnell DD, Kazinets G, Seo HG, Moskowitz JM. Effects of Web- and computer-based smoking cessation programs: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169:929-937.