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How Does Smoking Affect Your Heart?

Health risks of smoking are widely known, and its connection to breathing problems and lung cancer is prominent. But smoking's impact reaches far beyond your lungs. Cigarette smoking harms nearly every other organ in your body, including your heart.

In general, smoking causes blood to thicken, increasing the risk of blood clots and damage to blood vessel walls. This can lead to a condition called atherosclerosis, a disease in which plaque builds up in the arteries, eventually narrowing them and limiting the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your heart. Smoking also can cause heart disease or eventually lead to chest pain, heart failure or a heart attack.

According to a multi-study analysis by The BMJ (formerly British Medical Journal), smoking as little as one cigarette per day carries a 50% higher risk of developing coronary artery disease and 30% higher risk of stroke compared to those who have never smoked. When combined with other unhealthy lifestyle factors such as unhealthy cholesterol levels, high blood pressure and obesity, the risk for heart disease grows even more.

The good news is that heart disease risk drops dramatically within the first year a person quits smoking. Quitting smoking can even lower your risk more than common medicines used to lower heart disease risk, such as aspirin or beta blockers.

Whether you're a constant smoker, trying to quit or previously have quit, learn more about your risk factors for developing heart disease by taking our heart health assessment. You'll find out your heart's real age and what you can do now to reduce your risk of developing heart disease in the future.

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Why Choose Us?

Taking good care of your heart can help reduce your risk of developing heart disease and other issues like heart attack and stroke. The cardiac care team at Merit Health River Region provides a range of heart care services - from helping you create a heart-healthy lifestyle to managing chronic conditions and more serious issues.

We understand that every patient is unique, and so is their heart health journey. Our approach is tailored to meet your individual needs, providing personalized and effective treatment plans. We believe in empowering our patients with knowledge about their conditions, involving them in decision-making processes and providing continuous support throughout their healing journey.

The experienced team at Merit Health River Region includes a general cardiologist, an interventional cardiologist and an interventional cardiologist nurse practitioner, all committed to delivering patient-centered care.

Merit Health River Region is an accredited stroke and chest pain facility, which underlines our dedication to maintaining the highest standards of healthcare. These accreditations serve as a testament to our rigorous medical protocols and innovative treatment approaches.

Our Services Include:

Advanced diagnostic and imaging technology to find heart disease early, when it's most
Cardiac screening and evaluation testing: cardiac stress tests, echocardiogram, 24-hour heart monitoring, echocardiograms, ultrasound, etc.
Interventional cardiology, including angioplasty and stenting
Cardiothoracic surgery
Pacemaker/ICD placements
Specialized treatment for heart rhythm disorders, such as AFib, including cardioversion
Education and cardiac rehabilitation

Heart Healthy Resources

A Woman’s Risk for Heart Disease is Different: Here’s What You Need to Know

Heart disease is a big issue in the United States for both men and women alike. But some risk factors are more unique to women.
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What Do Doctors Have To Say About Your Heart?

Is High Blood Pressure Considered Heart Disease?

Finding out you have high blood pressure can be worrisome if you aren’t sure what your numbers mean or what to do about them. Discover how high blood pressure affects your heart.
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How Does Smoking Affect Your Heart?

Smoking’s impact reaches far beyond your lungs, harming nearly every other organ in the body. Get the specifics on how smoking can influence your heart’s health.
Read more »

Why Your Heart Wants You to Pay Attention to Your Cholesterol

Your liver makes cholesterol in your body, but you also get cholesterol from eating certain foods. Find out how the wrong kind of cholesterol can impact your heart.
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