Quit Smoking

Tonight NBC Nightly News even talked about how our President is working hard to knock his bad habit - SMOKING!

With this month's focus on a healthy HEART we have to talk briefly about the nasty elephant in the "room": Smoking.

No - I've never smoked. I never ever even thought about it. My dad smoked a little when I was younger and I thought it was gross. My mom pretty much swore she'd kill me if I even thought about it (and I know she would have done her best to make me think she was going to if I had). By the time I went to college I had pretty much made up my mind that smoking was probably one of the nastiest habits on the planet.... then I dated a guy who smoked (casually, you know, with drinks/at parties/etc.) ... but I didn't even know it until I kissed him once after he had just smoked. I literally thought about barfing in his mouth. Seriously. That's how gross it was.


Anyway - I know I don't know how hard it is to quit this nasty habit. BUT, people do it every day, all the time. YOU CAN TOO! ..... Stop making excuses and just do it.




Smoking is the most important preventable cause of premature death in the United States. It is well known that smokers have a higher risk of developing many chronic disorders, including atherosclerosis — the buildup of fatty substances in the arteries — which is the major cause of coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke. Controlling or reversing atherosclerosis is an important part of preventing future heart attack or stroke.

Smoking decreases your tolerance for physical activity and increases the tendency for blood to clot. It decreases HDL (good) cholesterol. Your risks increase greatly if you smoke and have a family history of heart disease. Smoking also creates a higher risk for peripheral artery disease*(more on this below) and aortic aneurysm (aka - rupture of your largest artery = really high chance of dying!). It increases the risk of recurrent coronary heart disease after bypass surgery, too.

I found this image online and instantly laughed - but thought it might actually help get the point across to SOMEONE!

Sex is really important for many reasons... and for many men, not being able to participate in this wonderful act of love (stress management, pleasure, procreation, or whatever you do it for... ) can cause major depression, conflict, and anger. Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is caused by the narrowing or blockage of arteries typically in the legs and pelvis. Arteries take blood away from your heart to the rest of your body. When it is harder to get blood flowing through the arteries - well.... the penis just doesn't work the way it's supposed to (or how you'd like it to!)! After all, an erection is only the result of rapid blood flow.  :)



So start the healing process now (yes, you can heal). Stop your bad habit - allow your lungs to breathe easier and your heart beat happier. [OH! And, keep your sex lives healthy as well!!]


*deep breath in*

*slow exhale*


doesn't that feel amazing?