[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/06\/how-quitting-smoking-helps-your-heart\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/06\/how-quitting-smoking-helps-your-heart\/","headline":"How Quitting Smoking Helps Your Heart","name":"How Quitting Smoking Helps Your Heart","description":"Learn how quitting smoking helps your heart and blood vessels and discover a typical quitter's timeline to learn how your health will improve.","datePublished":"2015-06-21","dateModified":"2019-04-18","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/heart-vascular","name":"Heart and Vascular Institute","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/heart-vascular","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/heart-and-vascular-institute\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/quit-smoking.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/quit-smoking.jpg","height":527,"width":791},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/06\/how-quitting-smoking-helps-your-heart\/","about":["Heart and Vascular Health"],"wordCount":345,"keywords":["blood clots","blood vessels","heart","heart disease","quit smoking","smoking","smoking cessation","Vascular disease"],"articleBody":"Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease, but millions of people still light up every day. You most likely know that smoking can cause cancer and lung disease. But did you know that it can also hurt your heart and blood vessels?If you quit smoking, you can lower your risk for many health problems. It’s never too late to kick the nicotine habit. Learn how quitting can help you get on the path to a healthier, smoke-free life.How Does Smoking Hurt Your Heart and Blood Vessels?According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, smoking harms nearly every organ in your body.Cigarettes have chemicals and other substances that can hurt your heart and blood vessels in many ways, including:Taking some of the “good” cholesterol away from your bloodTemporarily raising your blood pressureMaking your blood more likely to clot, which raises your risk of strokeLowering your ability to exercise, making it harder for you to stay at a healthy weight and keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels healthySmoking also raises your risk of:Atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, which happens when a hard substance called plaque builds up on your artery wallsPeripheral artery disease (PAD), which happens when plaque blocks or narrows the arteries in your arms, legs, or pelvisStroke, which can be deadlyHow Does Quitting Smoking Help?The American Heart Association reports that quitting smoking helps your body within minutes. As time goes on, the benefits only get better.When you quit smoking:20 minutes later, your heart rate and blood pressure are lower12 hours later, the amount of carbon monoxide in your blood drops to normal2 weeks to 3 months later, your blood flow gets better1 year later, your risk of heart disease is half that of someone who still smokesYou can lower your risk for heart and vascular disease by quitting smoking, and it’s never too late. Not sure where to start? Talk to your doctor and learn about programs that can offer help and support."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2015","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"06","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/\/06\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"How Quitting Smoking Helps Your Heart","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/06\/how-quitting-smoking-helps-your-heart\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]