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Stop
Smoking
Smoking
is your biggest risk factor. It narrows and damages your blood
vessels, which increases your risk of blood clots. It also makes
your heart work harder and raises your blood pressure. And "secondhand
smoke" can cause health problems for people who spend time
around you - especially children.
Even
if you have smoked for years, you can benefit from stopping now.
How you stop - "cold turkey" or gradually - doesn't
matter. The important thing is that you stop smoking.
Every Step Counts
- Ask
your doctor for help
- Join
a support group
- Set
a date to quit for good
- Start
tapering off now
- Ask
your family and friends for help
- Plan
other activities for times you normally smoke
- Keep
healthy, low-fat snacks on hand [carrot sticks, unsalted pretzels,
plain popcorn, gum, etc.]
- Drink
lots of water
- Stay
away from places where people are smoking
- Celebrate
daily or weekly success with small rewards
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