Stop Smoking
Quitting is one of the single best things you can do for your heart — and it’s never too late to start.
Smoking is the second leading cause of cardiovascular disease and cerebrovascular disease, after high blood pressure. Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your heart and your health.
It's never too late to quit. Quitting almost immediately provides benefits, and if you persevere, over time your risk of heart disease and stroke can fall to almost that of a non-smoker.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation SA encourages all South Africans to avoid smoking and other tobacco products, and to protect themselves and their families from second-hand smoke. Both smoking and passive smoking pose very real dangers — to your health and to those around you.
Of South African men smoke regularly
Of South African women smoke regularly
Higher heart disease risk in female vs. male smokers
Adults worldwide are killed by tobacco use — the single most preventable cause of death globally.
Smokers die 13 to 14 years earlier than non-smokers on average, and smoking kills more than half of lifelong smokers.
Increased risk of a non-fatal heart attack for every single cigarette smoked — persisting even at just 1–2 a day.
Dangerous chemicals contained in cigarettes, including nicotine — an extremely addictive and harmful substance.
Smoking almost triples the risk of heart disease, and more than doubles the risk of having a stroke.
Higher risk of heart disease for female smokers compared to male smokers.
Smoking narrows blood vessels, leading to raised blood pressure, and encourages blood clots to form — causing the cardiovascular equivalent of a traffic jam on the highway to your heart and brain. Reduce blood flow to the heart, and you risk having a heart attack.
Different strategies suit different people — success depends most on the strength of your motivation and readiness to change.
Make a firm decision to quit and set a date. List the reasons why you smoke, and why you want to quit.
Decide whether you'll stop gradually or suddenly — quitting altogether is best, but cutting down still reduces harm.
Ask friends and family for support. People with support are far more likely to quit successfully. If you live with a smoker, encourage them to quit with you.
If they can do it, so can you. Ask other smokers around you for patience — request they don't smoke in front of you.
Alcohol is often strongly associated with smoking, so limiting it can help reduce triggers.
Use the money you're saving by not smoking to buy yourself something special.
Speak to a nurse, doctor, or counsellor trained to help people quit — they can help you deal with problems as they arise.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy or other cessation aids can meaningfully improve your chances of quitting successfully.
Most people attempt to quit 8–10 times before succeeding. Each attempt teaches you something valuable for the next one.
Put the cash you'd have spent on cigarettes in a jar, set a goal, and reward yourself once you've saved enough.
