Tobacco is one of the most powerful and preventable causes of heart disease. In our part of Gujarat it reaches the heart in many forms — cigarettes, bidis, hookah, and chewing products like gutka, mawa, khaini and paan masala. Many people believe that chewing tobacco is safer than smoking. For the heart, this is not true.
How tobacco harms the heart
Every time tobacco enters the body, nicotine and other chemicals raise your blood pressure and heart rate, make the blood more likely to clot, damage the inner lining of your arteries so cholesterol builds up faster, and reduce the oxygen your heart muscle receives. Over time this leads to blocked arteries, heart attacks, strokes, and disease of the leg arteries. Smokeless tobacco such as gutka and mawa still delivers nicotine straight into the bloodstream and is strongly linked to heart attacks and high blood pressure, in addition to mouth and throat cancers.
Second-hand smoke matters too
If you smoke at home, your spouse, children and parents breathe it in. Second-hand smoke raises their risk of heart disease even if they have never used tobacco themselves.
The good news: your heart starts healing quickly
Quitting helps at any age, and the benefits begin fast. Within 24 hours your blood pressure begins to settle. Within a year your added risk of heart disease falls sharply. Over a few years your risk moves closer to that of someone who never used tobacco. It is never too late, and never too early, to stop.
Practical ways to quit
Pick a quit date and tell your family so they can support you. Remove cigarettes, gutka and paan masala from your home, car and workplace. Notice your triggers, such as tea, stress or after meals, and plan a substitute like water, saunf or a short walk. Ask your doctor about counselling and medicines that reduce cravings; you do not have to rely on willpower alone. If you slip once, do not give up, as most people need a few attempts before they quit for good.
If you already have high blood pressure, diabetes, or a family history of heart disease, stopping tobacco is one of the single most valuable things you can do for your heart.
This article is for general awareness and does not replace a personal medical consultation. If you have chest pain, breathlessness or other warning signs, seek medical care promptly.
Dr. Rohan P. Parikh, Interventional Cardiologist, Anand · 24×7 emergency: +91 70690 53852