Fact 7. Limit Alcohol and Avoid Smoking: Lifestyle Changes for Heart Health
Adopting a healthier lifestyle is a crucial aspect of managing heart failure, and this includes addressing habits like smoking and alcohol consumption. Both of these activities can put considerable stress on the cardiovascular system, and over time, they can contribute to heart failure and other heart-related conditions.
Smoking, in particular, is a significant risk factor. It’s damaging to the heart and blood vessels, contributing to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), and increases the likelihood of clot formation. Furthermore, nicotine in tobacco can raise blood pressure and heart rate, requiring the heart to work harder. The carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke also reduces the amount of oxygen that blood can carry to the heart and body. This combination of factors makes smoking a major risk factor not only for heart failure but also for heart attacks and strokes.
Quitting smoking, on the other hand, can substantially reduce these risks. While it can be a challenging process, the benefits for heart health are significant. Quitting improves cardiovascular function, reduces the risk of heart disease, and allows the body to begin repairing the damage caused by smoking. It’s a crucial step that can enhance the quality of life and longevity for heart failure patients.
Excessive alcohol consumption is another habit that can negatively impact heart health. While light to moderate drinking may not significantly increase heart failure risk, heavy drinking—defined as more than three drinks per day for men and more than two for women—can have detrimental effects. Alcohol in large amounts over time can lead to a specific form of heart failure known as alcoholic cardiomyopathy. This condition results from direct toxicity to the heart muscle cells, leading to their weakening and an inability to pump effectively.
Like smoking, limiting alcohol intake is advisable for those at risk of heart failure or those already diagnosed with the condition. Reducing alcohol intake can lessen its direct toxic effects on the heart and also reduce the likelihood of developing other conditions related to heavy drinking, such as high blood pressure and irregular heart rhythms, which in themselves can contribute to heart failure. (7)
