Do you know the #1 cause of heart disease?

This Week's Tip Do you know the #1 cause of heart disease? Most people think of lung cancer when they think of smoking, but did you know that smoking is the leading preventable cause of heart disease and heart attack? People who smoke are 2-4 times more likely to develop heart disease than non-smokers, according to the American Heart Association. Smoking damages the walls of your arteries, constricts blood vessels, and lowers your HDL (good) cholesterol levels. Quitting smoking can stop (and potentially reverse) much of the existing damage to your body. The American Lung Association says that one year after quitting, an ex-smoker's heart disease risk is half that of a smoker's, and after 15 years without lighting up, it's as low as a nonsmoker's. Don't smoke? Good! But stay away from tobacco smoke anyway. Exposure to secondhand smoke increases the risk of heart disease even for nonsmokers. Quit Smoking without Gaining a Pound » More Tips for Heart Health » Heart Friendly Recipe 15-Minute Asian Beef Soup This soup is packed with flavor yet low in fat. You can customize it with any vegetables or protein you have on hand. Get the Recipe See More Healthy Heart Recipes » Nutritional Info Servings Per Recipe: 4  Amount Per Serving  Calories: 247.5 Total Fat: 5.8 g Cholesterol: 50.4 mg Sodium: 281.8 mg Total Carbs: 29.1 g   Dietary Fiber: 5.9 g Protein: 22.8 g View full nutritional breakdown of 15-Minute Asian Beef Soup by ingredient Join the movement by clicking the link below to earn your SparkPoints, or connecting with SparkPeople in one of these other ways: UNSUBSCRIBE © 2017 SparkPeople, Inc. All rights reserved. Terms | Privacy | Manage Emails