How to Quit Smoking

So you’ve decided to become a former smoker? Congratulations! Nearly four out of five smokers want to quit, and each year 40 percent of smokers finally attempt it.

Before you start, it is important to remember this; research shows that the most success comes to smokers who use more than one method to fight their cravings and withdrawals. Despite your best efforts, you may not succeed the first time. But because you have already committed yourself to quitting, you are one step closer to being a former smoker.

Start by researching all your options to find the best quit-smoking strategy for you. You might want to do this in collaboration with your doctor or another healthcare professional because the right thing for you may require a prescription. It is also wise to have a doctor involved so that he or she can monitor you for any side effects or possible complications.

Here are some of the more common and proven treatment options and why they may be right for you.

Nicotine-Replacement Patch
Nicotine patches are available over the counter and are generally easy to use.

How does it work?
The patch is designed to release a steady dose of nicotine throughout the day. As cravings and withdrawal symptoms decrease, you can begin to reduce the length of time you wear a patch or switch to a patch with lower dosage strength. However, if you have sudden cravings or severe symptoms of withdrawal, you may be left unable to quickly satiate them; the patches aren’t designed for an instantaneous shot of nicotine, and you cannot smoke while using the patch or you risk nicotine overdose that can cause heart attack and paralysis

Who should use the patch?
Many people trying to quit can benefit from using the patch. It is simple to use and easy to apply. Most nicotine replacement patches have been designed to wean users off very carefully through controlled dosages. But because you won’t be able to handle intense cravings or symptoms of withdrawal, it might not be the best option to try first. Many people try other aids at first so they can control symptoms more immediately.



Nicotine Gum
Nicotine gums are available over the counter, and they work for a great number of people who are trying to quit. But this is no typical chewing gum.

How does it work?
Nicotine gums must be used in a specified manner in order for them to work properly. (Instead of chewing endlessly, the gum is chewed for a few minutes and then placed between your gum and inner cheek where it stays for about 30 minutes.) You don’t get an endless supply of chewing gum either. Instead, you follow a schedule of one piece every one to two hours. As your cravings subside and the withdrawal symptoms become more manageable, you can reduce the dosage in the gum or chew less often.

Who should use gum?
People may choose the nicotine chewing gum because they need to satisfy an oral activity craving, something an actual cigarette fulfilled previously. Unlike the patch, the gum can provide a quick boost of nicotine in the event of severe cravings or withdrawal symptoms. However, if you follow the schedule, this shouldn’t be a problem. If you have a hard time keeping track of a schedule or don’t think you would be able to chew gum on a regular basis (because of work or social commitments), this may not be the best aid for you.

Nicotine Inhaler
The goal of all nicotine-replacement therapies is to provide the body with as pure a form of nicotine as possible and without all the carcinogenic additives found in cigarettes. Many smokers crave the feeling of having smoke in their mouths—something neither patches nor chewing gum can provide. Enter nicotine inhalers.

How does it work?
These prescription devices work by vaporizing liquid nicotine for you to inhale. The nicotine is then absorbed in the mouth and throat and delivers a quick nicotine boost. As the body grows accustomed to less and less nicotine, you will gradually stop using the inhaler until you’ve fully quit.

Who should use inhalers?
You may be giving yourself an inhalation treatment six to 16 times a day when you start. If taking the time out of your schedule to provide this treatment will complicate work or social schedules, the inhaler may not be for you. The use of inhalers is also limited due to possible complications and side effects in sensitive groups—the elderly, women who are pregnant or may become pregnant, as well as women who are nursing.

Nicotine Nasal SpraySimilar to how the nicotine inhaler supplies pure nicotine through the mouth and esophagus, nicotine nasal spray delivers through the nose.

How does it work?
Nasal sprays use a liquid-to-spray route to make absorbing the nicotine easier. Your doctor will set up the best dosage plan for you; most suggest one to two doses per hour. As your cravings decrease, you will work with your doctor to reduce the number of doses each day until you no longer need the spray entirely.

Who should use sprays?
As with the inhaler, sprays require frequent treatment, and unlike chewing gums, this treatment is less than discrete. If you will not be able to maintain the schedule for work or social reasons, a spray may not be the best aid for you. If you also have complications inhaling medicine through your nose, nasal spray might not be pleasant or effective for you.

Electronic Cigarette
Electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes, are battery-operated devices shaped like a traditional cigarette.

How does it work?
Users inhale from e-cigarettes the same way they would traditional cigarettes, but instead of inhaling nicotine mixed with other potentially dangerous chemicals, the e-cigarette turns a purer form of liquid nicotine into a vapor. Some people believe e-cigarettes are safer than traditional cigarettes and prefer to smoke them; others use e-cigarettes as a nicotine-replacement therapy to quit.

Who should use e-cigarettes?
E-cigarette makers claim their products are safer than traditional cigarettes, but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not recommend these devices because they have not been evaluated for safety. (Some individual analyses have shown the vapor to be toxic and possibly contain carcinogens.) Until more is known about e-cigarettes, this may not be a safe alternative for people looking to quit.

Prescription Medicine
A couple of drugs have been approved by the FDA for smoking cessation. They do not contain nicotine, so it is recommended that they be used in conjunction with nicotine-replacement therapy.

How does it work?
Unlike nicotine-replacement therapies, prescription medicines like bupropion SR (Zyban, Wellbutrin) or varenicline (Chantix) do not provide your body with nicotine. Instead, they reduce cravings and lessen withdrawal symptoms by altering chemicals and nicotine receptors in your brain. Both medicines require doctor supervision and prescription—many insurance companies pay for prescription smoking-cessation aids. The FDA also requires that both medicines carry a black box warning; that’s the strongest safety warning the FDA can issue about a prescription medication. The reasons for these warnings: Bupropion may cause suicidal thoughts or behaviors, depression, and hostility. Patients taking varenicline report increased risk of falls and road accidents, as well as vision troubles and vivid or unusual dreams.

Who should use prescription medicines?Unlike with nicotine-replacement therapies, neither of these drugs contains nicotine, so the risk of nicotine overdose is small. For that reason, you may still be able to smoke the first few weeks of using these drugs (unless you are also using a nicotine-replacement therapy at the same time). That is a plus for many smokers who are trying to quit.

Alternative Therapies
Research does not always support alternative therapies with hard evidence, but many former smokers who have used these techniques swear by them. In your quest to quit, you may find one or more of these helpful. While nicotine-replacement therapies or prescription medications can subdue your cravings and whittle away at your withdrawal symptoms, you may find you are still battling the desire to smoke.

How do they work?
Hypnotherapy or hypnosis can help identify unconscious triggers—things that make your body crave a cigarette without your understanding the underlying reason, like a time of day or a certain odor. The therapist may then try to replace your unhealthy cigarette-smoking response to these triggers with something more healthful. Acupuncture—a therapy in which tiny needles are used to stimulate certain points on the body—may help reduce nicotine cravings and ease withdrawal symptoms. Meditation can help you relax and ease anxiety. Quitting smoking can be stressful and frustrating, and meditation may help you ease the angst you experience.

Who should use alternative therapies?
Most of these can be used in conjunction with other therapies. In fact many doctors and therapists will recommend a multidimensional approach to beating your addiction.

Group or Individual Counseling
The use of medication (nicotine-replacement therapies included) more than doubles your likelihood for success. But study after study also shows the importance of therapy and counseling when fighting an addiction.

How does it work?
Counseling provides you the opportunity to ask questions, learn from others’ experiences, and prepare for the next stage of your journey.

Who should use counseling?
Almost everyone can benefit from some type of counseling or support when trying to quit smoking. Whether it is one-on-one with a therapist or in a group setting with fellow future nonsmokers, it is important to talk to others about what you are experiencing and ask for the additional accountability you will need to see your journey through to the end.

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How to Prevent High Cholestrol??

For people who do not have familial hypercholesterolemia (a genetic disorder in which the body produces too much cholesterol), high cholesterol is completely preventable. To a large degree, high cholesterol is considered a lifestyle disease. In other words, how healthfully you live your life determines whether or not you will get it. The same healthy habits that can lower your cholesterol can also prevent high cholesterol in the first place.

Not Smoking
Smoking cigarettes can have a negative impact on high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol—the good stuff that helps keep your arteries clear. Smoking also damages blood vessels and speeds up the hardening of the arteries.

Maintaining a Healthy Weight
Being overweight or obese can raise “bad” low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Because it’s much harder to lose weight than maintain a healthy weight, controlling calories to avoid weight gain is optimal. Some experts believe weighing yourself every day is a good way to gauge whether you’re eating too much. If the scale starts climbing, you know it’s time to cut back on how much you’re eating. Extreme dieting can also slow down the metabolism and lead to weight gain. That’s why it’s better to eat a healthy and balanced diet. If you feed your body the nutrients it needs and avoid the junk it doesn’t, you are more likely to keep your weight and your cholesterol down.

Exercising Regularly
Getting 30 minutes of moderate physical activity, like brisk walking, most days of the week can help lower high triglycerides. Bumping up the intensity by climbing hills or stairs or by running can boost “good” HDL cholesterol. What’s more, exercising regularly can lower blood pressure and help overweight individuals lose weight, which can lead to lowering “bad” LDL cholesterol levels.

Eating a Healthy Diet
To keep your weight down and your heart healthy, you should avoid eating more calories than you burn each day. Extra calories are converted into triglycerides—a type of fat—in the blood. Consuming too many calories also leads to weight gain, which can elevate your cholesterol.

What you eat is just as important as how much you eat. When it comes to high cholesterol, saturated fat, trans fat, and refined carbohydrates are some of the biggest dietary culprits. Heart-healthy diets should be low in saturated fat, cholesterol, trans fat, sodium, and sugar. In fact the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommends a so-called “TLC diet” (Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes)—a low-saturated fat and low-cholesterol eating plan.

Foods that contain high amounts of saturated fat include:

•     Red meat
•     Processed meats
•     Fried food
•     Butter
•     Hydrogenated vegetable oil
•     Many processed baked goods, such as cookies and cakes
•     Dairy products that aren’t low-fat.

You can limit the amount of cholesterol-boosting fat in your diet by swapping saturated fats for healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. These kinds of fats can actually lower your cholesterol. Those foods include:

•     Olive oil
•     Sunflower oil
•     Peanut oil
•     Canola oil
•     Flaxseed
•     Fatty fish
•     Avocados
•     Nuts
•     Seeds

It’s also important to include plenty of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes in your diet, because fiber-rich food plays a role in bringing down cholesterol. Limit or avoid foods that have added sugar, like juice drinks, soda, and packaged foods. Excess sugar can boost blood pressure and triglycerides and lower “good” HDL level.

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5 Ways to Kick Your Cough At Home

Try these five tips to manage your cough at home:

1. Stay Hydrated

An upper respiratory tract infection like a cold or flu causes postnasal drip. Extra secretions trickle down the back of your throat, irritating it and sometimes causing a cough, Mosnaim says.

Drinking fluids helps to thin out the mucus in postnasal drip, says Kenneth DeVault, MD, professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla.

Drinking liquids also helps to keep mucous membranes moist. This is particularly helpful in the winter time when houses tend to be dry, another cause of cough, he says.

2. Try Lozenges and Hot Drinks

Try a menthol cough drop, Yoder suggests. “It numbs the back of the throat and that will tend to decrease the cough reflex.”


Drinking warm tea with honey can also soothe the throat. There is some clinical evidence to support this strategy, Yoder says.

3. Take Steamy Showers and Use a Humidifier

A hot shower can help a cough by loosening secretions in the nose. Mosnaim says this steamy strategy can help ease coughs not only from colds, but also from allergies and asthma.

Humidifiers may also help. In a dry home, nasal secretions can become desiccated and uncomfortable, Mosnaim explains. Putting moisture back in the air can help your cough, but be careful not to overdo it.

“The downside is if you don’t clean it, (humidifiers) become reservoirs for pumping out fungus and mold into the air and bacteria,” says Robert Naclerio, MD, chief of otolaryngology at the University of Chicago.

4. Remove Irritants in the Air
Perfumes and scented bathroom sprays may seem benign, but for some people they can cause chronic sinus irritation. This leads to chronic cough because of the production of excess mucus, says Alan Weiss, MD, a general internist at the Cleveland Clinic. Take control by avoiding such scented products.

The worst irritant in the air, of course, is smoke. Almost all smokers eventually develop the “smoker’s cough." Everyone around the smoker may suffer from some airway irritation. The best solution? Smokers need to stop smoking. (Yoder warns that severe chronic coughs can be a sign of emphysema or lung cancer in smokers, so be sure to see a doctor if you’re a smoker with chronic cough.)

5. Take Medications to Treat Coughs
When steamy showers, hot teas, and cough drops don’t help, you can turn to over-the-counter medicines to ease your cough.

Decongestants: Decongestants relieve nasal congestion by shrinking swollen nasal tissue and reducing mucus production. They dry up mucus in the lungs and open up the airway passages, says Weiss.
Decongestants come in pills, liquids, and nasal spray formulations. Oral decongestants such as pills and liquids can raise blood pressure, so people with hypertension need to be careful with their use, Mosnaim notes. Also, overuse of decongestants can lead to excessive dryness, which can trigger a dry cough.

Nasal sprays, if used for more than three or four days, can lead to rebound congestion, Mosnaim says. It’s best to use them for two or three days and then stop. 

Cough suppressants and expectorants: If you’re coughing so much that your chest hurts and you’re getting a bad night’s sleep, consider a cough suppressant, such as dextromethorphan (found in Robitussin-DM), says Mosnaim. Yoder recommends using cough suppressants only at night. 

Cough expectorants such as guaifenesin (found in Mucinex) are useful when a person has a cough that is thick with phlegm, Mosnaim says. Expectorants help to thin out the mucus so one can more easily cough it up, she notes.

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How to Treat a Diabetic Wound

If you have a wound, no matter how small, take the following steps to avoid infection and promote healing:

• Take care of the wound immediately. Even a minor wound can become infected if bacteria are allowed to build up after injury.
• Clean the wound. Rinse the wound under running water to remove dirt. Don't use soap, hydrogen peroxide, or iodine, which can irritate the injury. Then apply antibiotic ointment to prevent infection, and cover the wound with a sterile bandage. Change the bandage daily, and use soap to clean the skin around the wound. Inspect your wound daily for any signs of infection.
• See your doctor. Don't take any chances -- have your doctor check minor skin problems or areas of redness before they turn into larger problems. Err on the side of caution, says podiatrist and wound specialist Robert Snyder, DPM, medical director of the Wound Healing Center at University Hospital in Tamarac, Fla., and incoming president of the American Academy of Wound Management in Washington, D.C. "It's far easier to treat a minor skin problem before it becomes serious," he says.
• Keep pressure off the wound as it heals. For example, if your wound is on the bottom of the foot -- a common place for diabetic people to develop calluses and blisters -- stay off it as much as possible so it will have a better chance to heal, says Snyder.

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Taking 10,000 Steps a Day May Lower Diabetes Risk

 Building up to 10,000 steps a day can help control weight and may reduce diabetes risk, suggests new research in the journal BMJ.

Of 592 middle-aged Australian adults, those who increased the number of steps they took during a five-year period and built up to 10,000 steps per day had a lower body mass index, less belly fat, and better insulin sensitivity than their counterparts who did not take as many steps daily during the same time period.

A hallmark of diabetes, insulin resistance occurs when the body's cells stop responding as well to the action of the hormone insulin, which helps the body use blood sugar (glucose) for energy. The pancreas tries to compensate by producing more insulin, but ultimately fails to keep pace. As a result, excess glucose builds up in the bloodstream, setting the stage for diabetes.

Weight loss is known to increase insulin sensitivity, so researchers suggest that increased walking led to weight loss and decreased body fat which, in turn, improved diabetes risk factors.

“These findings, confirming an independent beneficial role of higher daily step count on body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, and insulin sensitivity, provide further support to promote higher physical activity levels among middle-aged adults,” conclude researchers, who were led by Terry Dwyer, MD, director of Murdoch Children’s Research Institute of Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia. “The use of a pedometer for measuring physical activity allows quantification of the magnitude of these effects.”

Participants answered questions about their diet and other lifestyle factors and had a full physical exam when the study began. They were also asked to wear pedometers to count the number of steps they took each day. Researchers followed up with the study participants five years later to see how many steps they were taking, and reassessed their diabetes risk factors.

Those who built up to 10,000 steps a day and kept at it showed a threefold improvement in their insulin sensitivity at five years, when compared with participants who only increased their daily steps to 3,000 per day, the study showed.

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Drink Less Alcohol For Strong Bones

 Heavy drinking is a health risk for many reasons, including the effects on bones.

Research shows that chronic heavy alcohol use, especially during adolescence and young adult years, can dramatically affect bone health and increase the risk of osteoporosis later in life.
 
What do doctors advise? Drink less for strong bones. 

Calcium is an essential nutrient for healthy bones, and alcohol is its enemy. "Alcohol has multiple effects on calcium," says Primal Kaur, MD, an osteoporosis specialist at Temple University Health System in Philadelphia. "The bones deteriorate because not enough calcium is getting into bones -- and the body is leaching it away from bones."

How Does Alcohol Harm Your Bones?
When you imbibe too much -- 2 to 3 ounces of alcohol every day -- the stomach does not absorb calcium adequately, Kaur explains. "Alcohol interferes with the pancreas and its absorption of calcium and vitamin D. Alcohol also affects the liver, which is important for activating vitamin D -- which is also important for calcium absorption."

The hormones important to bone health also go awry. Some studies suggest that alcohol decreases estrogen and can lead to irregular periods. As estrogen declines, bone remodeling slows and leads to bone loss. If you're in the menopausal years, this adds to the bone loss that's naturally occurring, says Kaur.

There's an increase in two potentially bone-damaging hormones, cortisol and parathyroid hormone. High levels of cortisol seen in people with alcoholism can decrease bone formation and increase bone breakdown. Chronic alcohol consumption also increases parathyroid hormone, which leaches calcium from the bone, she says.

Also, excess alcohol kills osteoblasts, the bone-making cells, Kaur adds. To compound the problem, nutritional deficiencies from heavy drinking can lead to peripheral neuropathy -- nerve damage to hands and feet. And chronic alcohol abuse can affect balance, which can lead to falls, she explains.

Drinking and Your Risk of Fracture
Heavy drinkers are more likely to suffer frequent fractures due to brittle bones and nerve damage, especially hip and spine fractures, Kaur says. Those fractures will likely heal slowly because of malnutrition.

When you quit drinking, your bones may recover fairly rapidly. Some studies have found that lost bone can be partially restored when alcohol abuse ends.

If you're a smoker, it's important that you quit that habit, too. "If you are a heavy drinker who also smokes, it makes your bone problems even worse," Kaur tells WebMD. "You need to quit both habits, or osteoporosis treatment is not going to work." In fact, studies suggest that quitting smoking helps people recover from alcoholism.

Drink Less for Strong Bones
Summer barbecues, family get-togethers, after-work happy hours -- they're full of temptations. Everyone's drinking, having a good time. If you're used to imbibing, it's hard to say no. But if you're goal is strong bones, these tips will help you drink less.

"It's difficult to deny yourself," says Murray Dabby, LCSW, director of the Atlanta Center for Social Therapy. "Therefore, you have to find something to say 'yes' to. ... That's the more winning strategy."
Saying 'yes' to healthy living is a good first step, Dabby tells WebMD. "Take the focus off 'not drinking' or 'not smoking.'"

As a coach and therapist, he asks people to understand their relationship to alcohol. "That relationship says a lot about how you see yourself -- 'I'm socially awkward, I'm shy, I'm anxious, I'm insecure, and alcohol makes me feel more comfortable.'"

To overcome shyness sans alcohol, here's his suggestion: "As Shakespeare would say, 'Life is a stage. Create a new performance for yourself. Act like the person you want to be," Dabby says.
If parties make you self-conscious, here's a positive approach: Act like you're the co-host. "Focus on making people comfortable rather than worrying about yourself," he explains. "Go around greeting everyone, asking how they know the host. Perform as if you're the friendliest person at the party. You won't need alcohol to cover up your nervousness."

Another tactic: Pretend that you're tipsy. If you love going to karaoke bars but can't enjoy it without alcohol, simply pretend, Dabby suggests. "Order ginger ale, but act like you're tipsy." That's the approach that one person took, he tells WebMD. "It was very successful for him. He found he could ham it up without alcohol."
If after-work happy hours are a problem, don't focus on drinking:

"Focus on getting to know your co-workers. Be curious, ask questions. Focus on relationship-building, because that's a positive thing,” Dabby says. “Order ginger ale or another nonalcoholic drink. You don't have to tell anyone you have trouble with alcohol."

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10 Ways to Reduce Stress While You Quit Smoking

Here are 10 ways to reduce stress while you quit smoking:

1. Cut yourself plenty of slack.
Don’t be hard on yourself while you’re quitting. Kicking the habit is tough enough. Recognize in advance that you’ll experience stress. Understand that your temper may be short and that you may feel discouraged and even depressed. Try not to be critical of yourself or others. Remember: quitting is your most important goal. Try to have an optimistic, “can-do” attitude. “Optimism turns out to be one of the most important determinants of success,” says Rabin. “If people are convinced they can do it, they stand a much better chance of succeeding. If you’ve tried and failed before, don’t let that discourage you. Most smokers have to try several times before they succeed.

2. Resolve short-term problems in advance.
If you can easily resolve any nagging short-term stresses, do it before you quit. Fix that leaky faucet. Clean up the clutter that’s been bugging you. Clear away as many stressful issues as possible.

3. Set long-term worries aside for now.
The first few weeks of quitting are the hardest. During that period, don’t burden yourself unnecessarily by worrying about long-term problems. Make a deal with yourself that you’ll worry about them later, after you’ve made it through the first few weeks. Focus on the here and now.

4. Learn to recognize signs of stress.
The sooner you deal with stress, the less likely it will be to derail your efforts to quit. Signs of stress include a feeling of being overwhelmed and unable to cope, anxiety, restlessness, headaches, sleeplessness, depression, agitation, and anger. As soon as you feel yourself under stress, act fast.

5. Do things you enjoy doing.

One of the simplest ways to ease stress is to distract yourself with activities that give you pleasure. Listen to a favorite recording. Watch a comedy movie. Take the dog out for a run. Play with your kids. Enjoy a warm shower. Luxuriate in the bathtub. Beyond helping you let off steam, life’s simple pleasures can remind you of why you want to quit in the first place, strengthening your resolve to stick with it.

6. Get moving.
Many studies show that physical activity can help ease stress and anxiety. Exercise even appears to boost brain chemicals associated with feelings of well-being. “Antidepressants help only about half of people with mild to moderate depression. Physical activity, on the other hand, eases depression in about 80% of people,” says Rabin. Almost any kind of activity helps. But doing something you really enjoy, such as swimming or walking in a beautiful area, may be especially helpful for easing stress.

7. Practice relaxation.

Stress reduction techniques also help many smokers quit. These include yoga, progressive relaxation, guided imagery, deep breathing exercises, and various forms of meditation. Mindfulness meditation, which encourages focusing on the here and now, has also been shown to help smokers kick the habit. No one technique works for everyone, so it’s worth trying out a few in advance. If possible, get comfortable with a few stress-reduction techniques before your quit date.

8. Put it in writing.

“Writing about something that’s bothering you -- whether it’s a long-time worry or something that happened yesterday -- can be a powerful way to ease stress,” says Rabin. His advice: Find a quiet place and spend 15 minutes writing about what’s nagging at you. Don’t reread or revise. Just write. Afterward, tear up what you’ve written and toss it away. “Just the act of writing can be enormously helpful in sorting out how you feel and putting stresses into perspective,” says Rabin.

9. Call on a friend.

Being with other people helps relieve stress. Before you quit, make a list of the people you can turn to for support and a friendly conversation. Turn to them when you’re beginning to feel stressed. “Social support turns out to be one of the most important determinants of success for smokers trying to quit,” says Scott McIntosh, PhD, associate professor of community and preventive medicine at the University of Rochester in New York and director of the Greater Rochester Area Tobacco Cessation Center.

10. Be patient.
It’s easy to be overwhelmed during the first few days of quitting. Almost all ex-smokers experience moments when they doubt their resolve. Remind yourself frequently: The effects of nicotine withdrawal get weaker every day that you don’t smoke. Every time you resist lighting up, you’re one step closer to a smoke-free life. Even when you’re over the hardest first few weeks, expect to hit some rough patches. “It takes about six months for remodeling in the brain to change behavior and make it second nature,” says Rabin. But once that occurs, you’ll be comfortable in your new life as a nonsmoker -- and happier and healthier for it.

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Five ways to avoid a heart attack

 
1. Know your cholesterol and keep it in check
Here’s what your optimal numbers should be:

• Total cholesterol: < 200
• LDL-cholesterol: < 100
• HDL-cholesterol: 40 or higher
• Cholesterol ratio (total chol/HDL): less than 5

2.Know your blood pressure and keep it in check
Blood pressure is the pressure of the blood against the walls of the arteries. Blood pressure has two readings — systolic and diastolic. The higher (systolic) number represents the pressure while the heart contracts to pump blood to the body. The lower (diastolic) number represents the pressure when the heart relaxes between beats. Blood pressure below 120/80 mmHg is considered optimal for adults.

3. Be physically active — every day
Regular exercise helps control your weight (which in turn helps lower LDL-cholesterol and blood pressure). What’s more, according to a meta-analysis published this year in the “Archives of Internal Medicine,” exercise also appears to increase levels of HDL-cholesterol — that’s the good cholesterol that lowers your risk for heart disease. On most days, aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity (60-90 minutes to lose or maintain weight loss).

4. Minimize your middle
It’s always important to maintain, or lose weight if you’re overweight, by balancing physical activity with a calorie-appropriate diet. However, when it comes to heart-disease risk, research shows that where you carry fat — NOT necessarily how much fat you’re carrying — markedly increases the risk of calcium and plaque buildup in the arteries of the heart. Abdominal fat — as opposed to fat around the hips — seems to trigger a chain of inflammatory activities that translates into harmful metabolic changes and plaque buildup … and ultimately heart disease. In other words, the bigger your belly is in relationship to your hips (this is known as the “waist-to-hip ratio”) is a better indicator of early signs of heart disease than other common measures of overweight and obesity, such as body mass index (BMI) and height/weight charts.

Know your waist-to-hip ratio. Here’s how it works:

• While standing, use a tape measure to measure your waist in inches at its smallest point OR at your navel (without holding in or pushing out your tummy).
• Next, measure your hips in inches at the widest area.
• Lastly, divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement.

For example, if your waist measures 38” and your hips measure 38” … you’re 1.0.


Ideal waist-to-hip ratio:

• For men, .9 or less is considered safe.
• For women, .8 or less is considered safe.

For both men and women, 1.0 or higher is considered “at risk” for heart disease

The good news is that even small improvements prove to be beneficial. Lose an inch or two off your waist and you’re already better off.

5. Eat a heart-healthy diet
Incorporate the following 5 guidelines:

• Eat plenty of vegetables, fruits and whole grains.
• Limit saturated fat to less than 7% of calories.
• Limit sodium to less than 2,300 mg/day.
• Limit alcohol to one drink/day for women and 2 drinks/day for men.
• Eat fish rich in omega-3 fats 3 times a week (wild salmon, mackerel, sardines, herring, lake trout and Pacific oysters).

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