Trying To Stay Healthy? Quit Smoking

KYW Medical Reports Sponsored By Independence Blue Cross

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- If you want to stay healthy, you have your best chances if you avoid cigarettes.

Ask any cardiologist what he or she considers the greatest risk-factor for heart disease and he or she will say smoking cigarettes. It's quite simple. Cigarette smoking can help lead to clogged blood vessels, and when these clogged blood vessels supply the heart, it can lead to a heart attack.

People will often exercise. They do what they can. It's a great idea if you want to reduce your chances of getting heart disease. Most people don't smoke cigarettes and run out and exercise, but if you ever tried it you would realize how it limits the amount you can exercise. The combination of exercise and cigarettes could be like playing Russian Roulette. It's all a matter of timing.

If you've been a smoker for years and want to start an exercise program, you can do it, but understand that you need a careful workup with an EKG and a stress test. You really need to look into it and not just run out there and exercise.