Thankfully, smoking is on the decline in the U.S., but still nearly one in five adult Americans is a smoker. Everyone knows that smoking is bad for you. And most people cite lung cancer as the primary reason for quitting. But that isn’t the only reason to quit:
•Smoking raises LDL (bad) cholesterol and lowers HDL (good) cholesterol.
•Smoking damages the walls of your blood vessels, making them more likely to collect fatty deposits.
•Smoking also raises triglycerides, a significant risk factor for heart disease.
•The nicotine in tobacco products can raise your blood pressure by 10 mm Hg or more for up to an hour after you smoke. Smoking throughout the day means your blood pressure may remain constantly high.
