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Heart is one of the most important organs of the body. Without this powerful organ, we will cease to exist. As anyone from third grade to their sixties knows, the heart pumps the blood throughout the body, vital for the other organs to function. Blood from the heart is also pumped to the lungs through capillaries, arteries and veins, and in turn pumps the blood back to the heart. The blood carries the oxygen vital supply of oxygen needed. If the circulation of blood is restricted or reduced, the amount of oxygen cannot reach the lungs and other parts of the body. This will cause all kinds of cardiovascular diseases. One of the fatal ones is atherosclerosis. Is there a link between smoking and atherosclerosis?

Astherosclerosis is currently the leading cause of strokes, heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases. Astherosclerosis is the progressive thickening and further hardening of the arteries – this is due to heavy smoking. Smoking and atherosclerosis are heavily linked—and can be potentially dangerous to any sufferer. Over a period of time, fat and cholesterol builds up in the arteries, reducing the size of the arteries and enabling less blood to pass through. The restriction disrupts the blood flow count, which is important for major organs such as the lungs, heart and brain.

What is the link behind atherosclerosis and smoking? Smoking tobacco accelerates the process and builds up of plaque and cholesterol in the arteries. There will be a significant lack of blood and oxygen in the brain, causing strokes. Arteries are too narrow that not much blood can go through. Thus, the brain is starved of oxygen, causing a section of the brain to die.

Atherosclerosis is caused by smoking and this condition leads to heart attacks. The cholesterols blocks the main artery and smoking lets in carbon monoxide into the lungs, reducing oxygen count in the blood.

Here are 5 tips to keep your heart healthy and prevent cardiovascular diseases:

• Quit Smoking. Smoking is the most common preventable cause of disease and premature death.
• Control your weight. Heart attacks, heart failure, and so many negative health risks are associated with obesity. Choose a balanced diet that is low on fat and high on protein. Include fruits, vegetables, healthy oils and whole grains on your diet.
• Maintain your blood pressure. Check your doctor’s office and have your cholesterol and blood pressure checked. High blood pressure is above 140 for systolic blood pressure. For diastolic blood pressure, it should be something around 90.

Make sure to know more about the connection between smoking and atherosclerosis by doing a thorough research.

Quitting smoking is certainly difficult, but it doesn’t have to be impossible. Every day thousands of people make the promise to quit and they find a way to make it a reality. Sometimes it can be a real fight, and there are definitely cases where the battle with cigarette addiction gets nasty. But that’s what happens when you’re dealing with one of the most addictive substances in the world. And besides, it doesn’t matter how gracefully you get to a smoke-free life as long as you get there. Quitting smoking also has a lot to do with creativity and adaptability since you might have to change your approach if you find it isn’t working. Here are some basic tips to get you going so that you first decision to start smoking so many years ago doesn’t end up costing you your health.

1. Keep a quit smoking journal. It doesn’t matter what you write in the journal as long as you make an effort to add something to it each day. Part of this will be for self reflection, the other part will be so you can arm yourself with information. In time your journal will help you to recognize your triggers and how to avoid certain situation what will increase your cravings.
2. Quitting smoking is the perfect time to overhaul your health and start with a good exercise regime. It might be hard at first, but exercise and eating right can surely help with your cravings. And while you’re at it, make sure to drink plenty of water every day to keep yourself hydrated.
3. Brush up on your smoking facts and learn the truth behind your addiction. Go ahead and read all the statistics and studies based on smoking so you can see for yourself how harmful the habit is.
4. Use visualization and meditation to stay positive. A lot of the process is in your head so you want to keep a clear mind and not let negative self-talk get in the way. When things get bad cigarettes will have a way of talking to you, almost begins you to start smoking again. It’s important to be able to calm your mind when the times are the toughest.
5. Build up a support system. Talk to your friends and family about quitting and see if anyone wants to join you. Join support groups or talk to other smokers who have been successful in quitting. It may be a long journey ahead of you so you want to enlist the help of as many people as possible, and don’t forget about talking to your doctor.

If you are not quite ready to quit smoking altogether then you might want to try using an e cigarette as a replacement while you slowly wean yourself off nicotine.