In 2020, more Mississippians died of heart disease than cancer and diabetes combined. Smoking, in any amount, contributes to heart disease by making the blood sticky, which restricts the flow to and from your heart, according to the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH).
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention promotion illustrates the dangers. Tonya M., now age 49, had to have major surgery when she was diagnosed with heart failure at 38 years old. While waiting for a transplant, a mechanical heart pump was inserted in her chest. This device continuously moves blood through Tonya’s body.
“Because I smoked, I have heart failure. I had to have open heart surgery, and a battery-operated heart pump installed inside of me to keep me alive,” Tonya said. “At night, I have to plug myself into the wall to keep the pump working. My tip is, try not to be a restless sleeper. Because if you’re not plugged in, you don't have very long to live.”
Mississippi has the fifth highest rate of smoking in the nation and the highest rate of heart disease mortality, reports Amy Winter, the director of the Office of Tobacco control at MSDH.
For information about the dangers of cigarettes, visit www.healthyms.com/tobacco.
For help with quitting smoking, visit the website, www.quitlinems.com, or call the Mississippi Tobacco Quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW.
