February is American Heart Month, which presents all of us with an opportunity to think about the ways to extend our lives and our well being by practicing healthy lifestyles and good heart health.  Most of us know the basics - eating right, staying physically active, and monitoring our blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar.
 
One simple solution to improving the health of millions of people would be to stop smoking.  In fact, according to the American Heart Association, smoking is the most important preventable cause of premature death in the nation, contributing to about 440,000 of the more than 2.4 million deaths annually.
 
Many people who smoke believe that the damage of smoking has already happened and that quitting would be of little consequence.  But consider what happens after you quit:

• After 20 minutes, your blood pressure and pulse will decrease.
• After 24 hours, your risk of heart attack will begin to decrease.
• After 48 hours, your sense of taste and smell will begin to return.
• After 3 weeks to 3 months, your circulation and tolerance to exercise will improve.
• After 1 year, your risk of heart disease is reduced to half that of a current smoker.
• After 5 to 15 years, your risk of stroke returns to that of a person who has never smoked.
• After 10 years, your risk of dying from lung cancer falls to nearly the same as a lifelong non-smoker.

If you smoke, talk to your doctor about an effective plan to stop.  Don’t be deterred.  Sometimes it takes more than one try.  If you know people who smoke, talk with them about stopping.

You can learn more about the heart impacts of smoking by visiting the American Heart Association’s feature on cigarette smoking and cardiovascular diseases.

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer
United States Senator