This brochure outlines the steps you can take to improve your heart health and decrease your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Quit smoking If you smoke, quitting smoking is the single most important lifestyle change you can make to decrease your risk of a heart attack. Smoking affects your heart in several ways, all of which are bad for your health. It causes blood vessels to narrow, lessening the flow of blood. It thickens the blood so that it forms clots more easily.
Quitting smoking can be a challenge.
Most people try to quit five or six times before they succeed. There are many ways to quit smoking, and no single method works for everyone. Some people find aids such as a nicotine patch helpful in quitting smoking. If you are considering using a patch please ask your doctor about it. Remember smoking while on a nicotine patch can be hazardous.