Stopping smoking

Smoking has many negative effects:

• Cigarette smoking can increase the risk of having a heart attack by two or three times. Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most common cause of death in women
• Smokers are 1.5 times more likely to have a stroke
• Smoking tends to increase blood cholesterol levels and adversely effects the HDL/LDL ratio
• Smokers have an increased level of atherosclerosis in their coronary arteries
• Smoking leads to an earlier menopause – up to two years earlier when compared with non-smokers
• Smokers are at greater risk of developing osteoporosis
• Smokers are more likely to experience vasomotor symptoms.

Make yourself aware of smoking cessation initiatives, so that you can make these resources available to support women who want to stop smoking.

Tagged as: blood, effects, heart, heart disease, increase, level, menopause, Resources, Women