Did you know that strokes are the third leading cause of death in America? In fact, strokes kill more people each year than breast cancer and AIDS combined. Strokes can also lead to long-term disability, so it’s important to understand what causes them and warning signs that you may be having one. However, another thing you should be keeping in mind is ways to lower your chances of having one. This article will give you some helpful ways that you can reduce your risk of having a stroke.
Quit SmokingSmoking is one of the worst habits someone can have. It not only causes
lung cancer and other respiratory diseases, but it can also cause heart attacks
and strokes. If you smoke the risk of having a stroke is two times higher. If
you’re a long-term smoker, your risk may increase up to four times higher than
for someone who never smoked. Although it is difficult to quit, you can do it
with support and hard work. Try talking to your doctor about getting help, as
well as to your family and friends. Exercise
Regularly
Many people fail to realize that exercise is one of the best ways you can prevent a stroke from happening. Your brain depends on blood flow for oxygen and glucose, which are the main sources of energy for your body. Increasing your heart rate will help to increase cerebral blood flow, oxygen, and glucose delivery to your brain cells. You should get in the habit of working out on a regular basis. For a general workout that can help keep your brain healthy, try doing cardiovascular exercises. 30 minutes a day for five days a week is typically what doctors recommend.
Lose Weight
Obesity is another dangerous condition that can lead to many serious health problems like cardiovascular disease and stroke. People who are obese have 70% greater risk of having a stroke than people who are at a normal weight. If you are overweight, losing just 10% of your body weight can reduce your risk by up to 15%. Try making small lifestyle changes over time to lose the weight and keep it off. For example, try taking the stairs instead of the escalator or lift weights whenever you can, as well as eat more fruits and veggies instead of calorie-rich foods.
Reduce Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is one of the main contributors to having a stroke. High blood pressure is a result of when you consistently have persistent force being exerted against the artery walls. If this continues, it will eventually damage the arterial wall and restrict blood flow which can lead to a stroke. If you have high blood pressure, it’s important to keep an eye on your numbers. Try keeping track of the readings with a home monitor or app. You can also ask your doctor about what your target ranges should be and how often you need to check them.
Keep Cholesterol Under Control
Having elevated blood cholesterol levels is another risk factor for stroke. LDL or low-density lipoprotein carries cholesterol throughout your blood while HDL or high-density lipoprotein carries it back to the liver. You want to have an HDL level higher than 60mg/dL and an LDL level lower than 100mg/dL. If you are struggling with this, try increasing your physical activity and healthy eating habits. Both can help reduce high cholesterol levels. If this isn’t effective, ask your doctor about some prescription drugs that you can take to further control your LDL and HDL levels.
Quit Drinking Alcoholic Beverages
Another dangerous habit that people partake in is drinking alcohol on a regular basis. People who drink too much are at a greater risk of having a stroke from an irregular heart beat, blood clots, or high blood pressure. If you find yourself drinking often during the week or on the weekends, try to start cutting back. Your doctor may also recommend that you don’t consume any alcohol because your risk of stroke is already so high.
Eating a Healthy Diet
There are a number of nutritional changes you can make to help reduce your risk of stroke. First, try making the switch from saturated fats to unsaturated fats which will help decrease lipid levels in your blood. Next, eat more foods that have omega-3 fatty acids which lower triglycerides and LDL cholesterol levels as well as raise HDL cholesterol levels. Try eating whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, beans, and nuts regularly. These are simple ways to make sure you are getting the right amount of nutrients in your body that can help keep it healthy.
Reduce Sodium Intake
Sodium is a major factor in having elevated blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, you should keep your sodium intake as low as possible. Try making the simple swap from table salt to other spices that can add flavor to your foods. If keeping track of the amount of sodium you are consuming each day seems too difficult, just be sure to keep the total amount below 2,000mg.
Conclusion
Stroke is a very common, yet serious condition that can lead to death if left untreated and the idea of having one can be scary. So let that fear be a motivator. There are many ways you can reduce your risk of having a stroke, some simple and some more difficult. However, none are impossible if you are determined to keep yourself healthy for the years ahead.
We all go through some rough patches in life and can sometimes experience a nervous breakdown. These episodes are often triggered by severe stress and can cause both physical AND psychological symptoms.
Your doctor might recommend a variety of treatment options, which could include medications, talk therapy, and even some lifestyle changes. Unfortunately, though, few of us actually recognize it to deal with it effectively.
And If these symptoms are left unidentified, the chances of a nervous breakdown taking the form of a mental health issue grows.
So, in order to take care of your physical health, it’s important to be mindful of these 8 signs and deal with an oncoming nervous breakdown in a healthy way. Continue reading to see if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms.
What IS A Nervous Breakdown?
A nervous breakdown can also be referred to as a mental breakdown and is a term that expresses a time of extreme emotional or mental stress. This feeling is so great that the person isn’t capable of performing ordinary day-to-day activities. The term isn’t a clinical one. And it isn’t a mental health disorder, either. But that doesn’t imply that a nervous breakdown is a healthy way to relieve stress. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Sometimes, it can indicate an underlying issue like anxiety or depression. There isn’t just one particular cause of a nervous breakdown. Anything leading to excessive pressure put on you can trigger it. Generally speaking, feeling stressed out and not being able to cope with it might lead to you feeling so overwhelmed that you can’t perform your daily duties. Some factors that could trigger a nervous breakdown are:
A sudden tragedy
Anxiety
A major life change
Financial problems
Lack Of Sleep
Burnout
Depression
Abuse
Experiencing a bit of stress is a normal part of our lives. However, when the feelings become too overwhelming, they can contribute to you breaking down mentally. While they can be scary and debilitating, there are ways to cope with them. Identifying the signs, taking action, and getting the right treatment can help.
Irritability And Restlessness
When you’re nearing a nervous breakdown, you’ll start noticing that everyone and everything gets on your nerves pretty fast. On top of that, you’re in a constant state of mental or physical restlessness, like something awful is about to happen.
Sadly, if you continue to ignore the signs, something awful WILL eventually happen. And we’re not talking about the worry-filled scenarios that go through our minds, but the nervous breakdown that happens if we continue to run on an empty tank.
A Constant State Of Physical Exhaustion
Fatigue is probably the most common factor in a looming breakdown. When your brain rejects the seriousness of a stressful circumstance, your body will try to send you messages.
This could be through pains, aches, exhaustion, or restlessness, and they’re all impossible to ignore. If you’ve been feeling physically tired for the past couple of weeks, maybe it’s time to go see your doctor.
You’re either dealing with an illness, or you’re under too much pressure and in critical need of some stress relievers.
Social Isolation
When you’re under severe stress, your first instinct would probably be to self-isolate with the justification of “figuring it all out on your own.”
But what you’re really doing is cutting yourself off from the people who might be able to assist you in working through whatever is causing your anxiety and stress.
Even though you may feel like you don’t have the time and energy to fraternize with others, bear in mind that connecting with people enables you to manage complex emotions and refills your inner resources.
Mood Swings
When you’re going through a lot of stress and your mental fuel is running on low, one of the first things to “crack” is your ability to control your emotions. Even the tiniest discomfort will be enough to make you moody and irritated.
In other words, you magnify the gravity of a situation and find it almost unthinkable to keep undesirable emotions like anger or frustration under control.
So that’s how you end up yelling because the driver in front of you is moving at a snail’s pace or making a scene because the bartender forgot to put whipped cream on your hot chocolate.
Lack of Motivation
The lack of incentive you feel when you’re on the verge of a breakdown goes hand in hand with the lack of inner resources you possess. Sometimes, motivation demands more than just one’s sheer willpower.
The absence of inspiration you experience when you feel like you’re on the brink of a nervous breakdown goes hand in hand with the deficiency of inner resources.
When you deal with a crisis that drains you physically and mentally, even the smallest effort feels like a burdensome task. You scarcely have enough energy to “survive” the situation that’s causing you to stress out, let alone focus on any other responsibilities.
Muscle Pains
Similar to physical exhaustion, muscle pains are a clear indicator that you’re going through a brutal situation that demands your full attention.
Whether these aches and pains are caused by a lack of self-care, excessive work, a chaotic lifestyle, or an emotional shock, it’s crucial to take some time off and concentrate on reloading your inner resources.
Panic Attacks
Unless you’re going through a panic disorder, PTSD, or other anxiety-related disorders, panic attacks are your system’s way of saying, “I give up! This is too much!”
It’s what happens when you ignore the other signs like headaches or physical exhaustion, and you push on despite having the physical or mental resources to keep pushing through.
So the panic attacks you might be experiencing when going through a tough time are like a forced shutdown to prevent you from reaching complete burnout.
Feelings Of Worry And Fear
When you’re on the verge of having a nervous breakdown, you’ll start noticing that unpleasant emotions become increasingly challenging to manage.
All those doubts, fears, and worries that were hiding somewhere in the back of your mind begin to surface, changing your perspective and clouding your judgment.
Maybe you don’t detect them throughout the day because you’re too occupied concentrating on the situation that’s causing you distress.
But when it’s time to go to bed and your mind isn’t distracted by anything anymore, you may feel overwhelmed by all those disastrous scenarios, irrational thoughts, and an inner voice that cuts out the little hope you have for a more promising future.
Available Treatments
If you think that you or someone you care about might be about to have a nervous breakdown, you should make an appointment with a doctor. Seeing a professional is especially important if you’ve been having thoughts of hurting yourself or other people around you.
A specialist will conduct a complete physical exam and speak with you about any medications you’re currently taking to make sure that other factors aren’t contributing to your symptoms.
They might even refer you to a psychotherapist or psychiatrist if they feel it’s necessary for further evaluation and treatments. Those treatments could include:
Talk Therapy Your doctor might recommend talk therapy to aid you in your process. The most common type of psychotherapy commonly used is cognitive behavioral therapy. CBT has been proven effective at treating depression, anxiety, and a few other serious mental health disorders. It’s used to identify difficult thought patterns and to learn coping mechanisms to better navigate difficult situations.
Medications Besides talk therapy, your doctor might suggest prescription medication to treat your symptoms. This can include anti-anxiety or antidepressant medication.
Lifestyle Modifications If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed and you think you might be on the verge of a nervous breakdown, take these strategies into consideration to manage your symptoms:
Stay away from caffeine and alcohol. They worsen mental health symptoms and interfere with your sleep schedule.
Regular exercise has been known to improve symptoms of many mental health conditions.
Do Some breathing exercises.
Develop a bedtime routine that will help you sleep better. For instance, read a book, take a warm bath, or switch off electronic devices an hour before bedtime.
Try massage therapy.
Acupuncture has also been known to help.
Try out yoga.
Eat a well-balanced diet with lots of fresh veggies and fruit, lean proteins, whole grains, nuts, and seeds.
We hope you enjoyed reading this article.
By Scott
November 23, 2022
Steam Room Benefits for Your Health
Steam rooms are enclosed spaces that are heated with steam. They may
provide benefits, including reducing system-wide inflammation.
The
temperatures vary, but steam rooms are typically kept somewhere around 110°F.
You’ve probably seen steam rooms before at your gym or inside a spa.
Steam
rooms are similar to saunas. You sit in a small heated room, and both are said
to benefit your health. The big difference is in the type of heat that they
provide.
A sauna uses dry heat, usually from hot rocks or a closed stove. Steam rooms
are heated by steam from a generator filled with boiling water.
While a sauna may help you relax and loosen your muscles, a steam room may have
even further health benefits. The key to the steam room’s unique health
benefits is the humidity.
Steam rooms are wet and tropical-like. They are usually lined with tile, glass,
or plastic to make them airtight to hold in the moisture. They are heated to
between 114 and 120 degrees and designed to maintain humidity from 95% to 100%.
When you enter a steam room, you’ll probably notice droplets right away on your
skin because of the high humidity. The air may even feel thick.
In contrast, saunas are dry and desert-like. They are typically made of wood
and heated to between 160 and 200 degrees, with humidity levels near zero.
Heat bathing is an ancient practice practiced throughout history across many
cultures, continuing today in the Russian banyas, American Indian sweat lodges,
and Finnish saunas.
As heat therapy soars in popularity today, many health
claims are made about its benefits. These range from better metabolism, weight
loss, and stress reduction to improved cardiovascular function, pain reduction,
anti-aging, and skin rejuvenation.
Medical
evidence to support these claims is sometimes incomplete and short of
scientific proof, heat therapy researcher Joy Hussain points out in her 2018
studyTrusted Source.
Still, the study attributes sauna bathing to beneficial effects on the
circulatory, cardiovascular, and immune system functions.
While
there are many studies on the health benefits of saunas, research on the
benefits of moist heat, like steam rooms, is much more limited. But what
research there is does highlight a number of health benefits to steam heat.
Read
on to see why periods of heat immersion, as in steam rooms and saunas, can be
valuable to your health. The focus is on steam rooms, but saunas are included
too when research suggests a connection.
One
thing that researchers generally agree on is that thermal therapy can help
reduce systemic inflammation.
This
is a big benefit. ResearchTrusted Source shows
that chronic inflammatory diseases are the most significant cause of death in
the world.
If
inflammation can be reduced, so can the incidence of disease for millions of
people. A recent research update by the Rand Corporation
showed that about 60% of Americans had at least one chronic condition, and 42%
had more than one. Twelve percent of adults in the United States are living
with 5 or more chronic conditions.
Worldwide, 3
out of every 5 peopleTrusted Source die
of chronic inflammatory conditions. Inflammation has been linked to many
chronic conditions, including:
stroke
respiratory
disease
heart
disorders
cancer
obesity
diabetes
One studyTrusted Source found
that frequent sauna bathing helped reduce the amount of C-reactive protein
(CRP) in the body. C-reactive protein is a leading blood marker of systemic
inflammation.
Researchers
noted that further studies are needed to investigate the exact relationship
between sauna bathing and systemic inflammation. Though sauna heating, not
steam heating, was the focus of the study, steam might have a similar benefit
since it also makes use of heat therapy.
Another study suggested that reduced inflammation
may be one of the reasons that frequent sauna bathing is associated with
decreased risk of both short-term and long-term disease conditions. The study
called for further research and cautioned that long-term effects of saunas are
still unknown.
Another study suggested
that practices that temporarily elevate body temperature and thereby reduce
inflammation may be particularly useful for individuals whose physical or
cognitive limitations prevent them from engaging in regular exercise.
A studyTrusted Source of
more than 2,000 men living in Finland found that CRP levels were lower among
those who used the sauna more frequently. This is an example of dose-related
health benefits of heat therapy in which more, within safe limits, is often
better than less.
There has been much discussion in medical circles about
increasing not only lifespan, but healthspan. This is the number of years you
live in reasonably good health without serious acute or chronic illness.
One study concluded that regular sauna
bathing has the potential to delay the effects of aging and extend healthspan
via heat therapy’s benefits to cardiovascular and cognitive health, physical
fitness, and muscle maintenance.
Emerging evidence shows that health benefits of saunas
are often dose-related, especially for inflammation and cardiovascular
benefits. This means that regular repeated sauna use has more benefit than
infrequent use.
One research review suggested that the
explanation for heat’s dose-related benefits may be that repeated sauna use
could help the body acclimate to heat and enhance its response.
Here are some of research’s most commonly mentioned
health benefits of heat therapy. The focus here is on steam rooms, but saunas
are also included when benefits overlap between the two forms of heat.
Improves circulation
A small older studyTrusted Source of
seniors in 2012 showed that moist heat improved circulation, especially in the
lower legs. The moist heat was applied by a heat pack up to 1 cm below the
skin, rather than by a steam room.
Improved circulation can lead to lowered blood pressure
and a healthier heart. It can also promote skin tissue healing, which is a
common complication for older people.
Clears congestion
Clearing congestion is perhaps the benefit most people
associate with steam rooms. Anecdotal claims often credit steam with
benefitting:
stuffy nose
headache
throat irritation
cough
Steam rooms create an environment that warms the mucous
membrane and encourages deep breathing. As a result, using one can help break
up congestion inside your sinuses and lungs, at least temporarily.
However, results of research about the actual clinical
effects of steam inhalation are mixed.
On the positive side, one study found that of hot humid air could
help clear mucus, which could be enhanced by inhaling of steam. Another study found that inhalation of essential
oils, especially peppermint, in steam vapor may help clear sinus and lung
congestion.
Also, this study found that steam inhalation,
especially when supplemented with yoga postures, can help improve chronic
sinusitis by promoting drainage from the sinuses.
One the other hand, results were not conclusive in one research review of six clinical trials
that looked at the effectiveness of steam therapy in adults with the common
cold. While participants in some of the studies had reduced symptoms, others
didn’t. Some even experienced nose discomfort from inhaling steam.
A clinical
trial exploring the effectiveness of steam inhalation in people
with chronic sinus symptoms found significant improvement only for headache,
not for the majority of other sinus symptoms.
Overall, steam therapy may be effective for temporary
relief of congestion symptoms, but it has not been scientifically proved to be
an effective treatment.
Promotes cardiovascular
health
Older researchTrusted Source shows
that in a steam room some people’s bodies release hormones that change their
heart rate. One of these hormones, called aldosterone, regulates your blood
pressure.
When aldosterone is released from sitting in the steam
room, it can help lower high blood pressure. This is part of the reason that
the steam room makes you feel relaxed.
A 2021 study found that steam baths can
potentially improve heart function by reducing blood pressure in healthy
people. They noted reductions in heart rate and both systolic and diastolic
blood pressure in healthy subjects taking a 10–15 minute steam bath once a week
for 12 weeks.
Another study echoed these findings, noting that
regular sauna use generally decreases systolic and diastolic blood pressure to
improve cardiovascular health.
Reduces stress
Everyone knows how sitting in a steamy bath or steam room
can help you relax. Researchers are not so sure why. Some of the theories are
that the heat of a steam room helps the body produce endorphins, the so-called
feel-good hormones that help reduce stress and anxiety.
Another explanation is that a steam room session helps
the body decrease its level of cortisol, the hormone produced in response to
stress. When cortisol levels drop, people feel more relaxed and rejuvenated.
One
research reviewTrusted Source suggested
that people who are in high stress occupations (HSOs) (like first responders or
military) might reduce stress levels with sauna bathing. The study involved
only saunas, but benefits may extend to steam rooms since the main focus was on
heat stress.
The researchers found that one to two saunas a week could
result in short-lasting improvements in blood pressure and arterial stiffness.
Using saunas more often and over a longer period of time led to greater stress
tolerance and increased health.
The study cautioned that there was not yet a clear link
between heat stress and beneficial cellular mechanisms. They did see the
potential of sauna bathing to lesson metabolic risk factors for those in HSOs.
They said future research is needed to examine the
effects of both short-term and long-term sauna use on bodily responses and
performance.
Promotes mental wellness
Heat-based treatments, including steam rooms, may support
mental wellness by directing attention toward relaxation and away from
anxiety-producing news and “doomscrolling.”
One studyTrusted Source suggested
that engaging in heat treatment activities helps to create a state of
mindfulness and a focus on the breath, both of which have many psychological
benefits. These may include sleep improvement, stress reduction, and mood
boosts from focusing on doing something positive for yourself.
Sauna bathing was associated with lowered risks of
dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in one involving Finnish men. The researchers
called for further studies to identify the specific bodily processes that might
connect sauna bathing and memory diseases.
May help fight Covid-19
While no one would suggest you go into a steam room if
you have COVID-19, it is interesting to note that researchTrusted Source is
exploring the potential of applying mild heat-stress from saunas, steam rooms,
hot springs, and mud application to act as a fever does to trigger immune
defenses against viruses, including COVID-19.
The researchers point out that no clinical protocols
exist yet for using heat to treat COVID-19. But heat does have has a long historyTrusted Source of
being used to treat illness. The researchers suggested that protocols be
established for use now and during any future pandemics.
The study concluded that heat has potential for treatment
and prevention of COVID-19. Although its effectiveness has yet to be
established, heat treatments are widely available and relatively inexpensive.
Also, they have wide-ranging mental and physical effects in the body.
All this combines to make varied heat treatments a
potential option for use against viral infections.
Promotes skin health
Through environmental exposure, all sorts of toxins can
become trapped underneath your skin. Steam rooms help solve that problem by
using heat to open up your pores.
The warm condensation rinses away the dirt and dead skin
that can lead to breakouts. As a result, you may have clearer and more
even-toned skin.
Helps support workout
recovery
The pain you feel after working out is called delayed onset muscles soreness
(DOMS). Professional athletes have known for decades that heat
therapy can help them recover from training workouts.
Heat can penetrate deep into muscle tissue and help
relieve DOMS. An older 2013 studyTrusted Source showed
that moist heat works as effectively and also more quickly than dry heat in
muscle recovery.
Loosens stiff joints
Warming up before a workout is critical in avoiding
injury. Using a steam room as part of your warm-up could help you reach maximum
mobility during activities such as:
One older 2013 studyTrusted Source investigated
the effects of heat on the flexibility of soft tissue. Heat was applied to the
knee joint before activity, and as a result, the joint was far more flexible
and relaxed. The results showed that heat can help reduce injury before a workout.
Research has shown that heat is
especially useful for limbering up stiff joints and relieving achy muscles for
people with arthritis, according to the Arthritis Foundation.
Here’s why. Warming up a sore joint or tired muscle makes
blood vessels bigger, which lets more blood, oxygen, and nutrients to travel to
the injured tissue. This promotes relaxation of the stiff muscles and joints.
Burns calories
When you’re in the steam
room or sauna, your heart rate increases. If you use a steam room after an
aerobic workout, your heart rate is already elevated, and the steam room can
prolong that elevation.
Sweating it out in the
steam room isn’t a tool to lose weight quickly. Any weight you lose in the
steam room is water weight, and you’ll need to replace it by drinking water to
avoid dehydration.
But using steam rooms regularly as a way to burn more
calories at the gym could help your diet and exercise routine be more
effective.
Steam rooms do have many potential health benefits, but
steam immersion can be harmful if you overdo it, especially if you’re a newbie.
Staying in a steam room for more than 15 minutes can dehydrate you. Experts
recommend drinking water while you’re there, and directly afterwards.
Steam rooms can also host other people’s germs. The steam
isn’t hot enough to kill some types of bacteria, and the warmth may even
increase the number of bacteria.
Steam rooms alone can’t treat serious conditions. And
while they can raise your heart rate and make your exercise more effective,
steam rooms are not a substitute for exercise.
Avoid the steam room and sauna until you get the
all-clear from your medical professional if any of these conditions apply to
you:
pregnancy
immune-compromised
recovering from surgery
Other potential risks of a steam room, especially with a
long exposure, include:
burns
cramps
dizziness and fainting
heat exhaustion
heat stroke
If you have a fever
Medical professionals warn against going into a steam
room if you have a fever, especially a high one. The increased heat from the
steam could elevate your body temperature to dangerous levels and result in
breathing difficulty or even heat stroke.
If you are sick
Also, medical professionals warn not to go into a steam
room if you are sick. The heat may encourage further growth of bacteria and
viruses. Also, you run the risk of transmitting your illness to others.
Research warns that steam
therapy used for treating colds and sinus infections at home is
controversial because of the potential to scald yourself if you do it
incorrectly.
Do steam rooms increase
the risk of COVID-19 transmission?
A research review found no increased
transmission risk for COVID-19 in steam rooms, showers, or hot tubs that have
high humidity, generally greater than 80%.
In fact, the research suggested just the opposite. The
high humidity decreased both the amount of airborne material and the survival
rate of the virus in airborne particles and on surfaces.
Researchers cautioned that the results did not eliminate
the need to maintain physical distancing, as well as regular and thorough
cleaning and disinfecting routines.
Many health benefits have been attributed to heat therapy.
The ones best supported by research are reducing inflammation and clearing
sinus and bronchial congestion. Also, adding a stop in the steam room to your
post-workout routine may decrease your recovery time and help you feel better.
While steam rooms should never replace treatments that
your doctor has prescribed, they are a great place to unwind and reap some
health benefits while you’re at it.
Always practice good steam room hygiene by wearing
flip-flops, sitting on a towel, and rinsing off with a lukewarm shower to get
rid of bacteria after time in a steam room.
Last medically
reviewed on December 13, 2022
How we reviewed this article:
Our experts
continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles
when new information becomes available.
Current Version
Mar 21, 2023
Written By
Kathryn Watson, Karen Lamoreux
Edited By
John Bassham
Copy Edited By
Copy Editors
Dec 13, 2022
Medically Reviewed By
Debra Rose Wilson, PhD, MSN,
RN, IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT
Smoking is one of the worst habits someone can have. It not only causes
lung cancer and other respiratory diseases, but it can also cause heart attacks
and strokes. If you smoke the risk of having a stroke is two times higher. If
you’re a long-term smoker, your risk may increase up to four times higher than
for someone who never smoked. Although it is difficult to quit, you can do it
with support and hard work. Try talking to your doctor about getting help, as
well as to your family and friends.
