So, with all the information about the dangers of cigarette use, why do people still smoke?
Smoking kills more people in New Zealand than the total number killed by drinking alcohol, taking drugs, murder, suicide, road crashes, air crashes, poisoning, drowning, fires, falls, lightning and electrocution.
And yet it is the most preventable cause of premature death in our society.
Cigarette smoking greatly increases the risk of fatal and nonfatal heart attacks in both men and women. It also increases the risk of a second heart attack among survivors. Women who smoke and use oral contraceptives have an even greater risk than smoking alone.
The good news is that quitting smoking greatly reduces the risk of heart attack. One year after quitting, the risk drop to about one-half that of current smokers and gradually returns to normal in persons without heart disease.
Even among persons with heart disease, the risk also drops sharply one year after quitting smoking and it continues to decline over time but the risk does not return to normal.
Does Smoking Tobacco Cause High Blood Pressure?
No. However, it can temporarily raise blood pressure, and it DOES increase the risk of heart and blood vessel diseases.
Smoking injures blood vessel walls and speeds up the process of hardening of the arteries. This applies even to filtered cigarettes. So even though it does not cause high blood pressure, smoking is bad for anyone, especially those with high blood pressure.
If you smoke, quit. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. Once you quit, your risk of having a heart attack is reduced after the first year. So you have a lot to gain by quitting.
The regular practice of Vedic Meditation develops inner peace, contentment and a balanced state of physiological functioning. As a result, cravings for cigarettes and or tobacco naturally disappear.
An answer to:
What is the Best way to Give Up Smoking Cigarettes?
… the combination of Vedic Meditation, for twenty minutes twice a day, with a good diet – especially a low fat, low salt diet – and physical exercise, should see a dramatic change in your health.
Vedic Meditation is one of the most powerful techniques available for reducing stress and anxiety. It is also one of the easiest to learn and simplest to practice.
If you are in Auckland (NZ) call me, Warwick Jones, on 09 419 5380, or email to to find our how Vedic Meditation could help you achieve better health.