Both smoking and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) increase your risk of negative cardiovascular outcomes. By quitting cigarettes, you can support your HCM management plan.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) happens when genetic changes in your heart muscle cause the walls of your left ventricle to increase in size. As a result, your heart can become less flexible and less able to take in and pump out blood with every heartbeat.

HCM is manageable with a heart-healthy lifestyle, which includes quitting smoking. Because smoking cigarettes can lead to heart risks, giving up the habit can better support your long-term health with HCM.

Here are some ways you can benefit from giving up smoking and some tips on how to quit.

Smoking can add to your cardiovascular risk. Cigarettes contain nicotine, which causes your body to release adrenaline. Adrenaline increases your blood pressure and heart rate, which can put more strain on your heart.

Smoking can also cause scarring and buildup inside your arteries, which can block blood flow, leading to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart failure.

In HCM, the walls of your heart become thick and stiff. This makes it harder for your heart to pump blood, and it might pump less blood than your body needs.

HCM can also put you at risk of developing atrial fibrillation, which is a type of arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat). Atrial fibrillation increases the risk of blood clots and stroke.

Chest pain and irregular heartbeat are two symptoms of HCM. HCM can also cause heart failure or sudden cardiac arrest, but the latter is rare.

With HCM, your heart is already working harder than it typically would to give your body the oxygen-rich blood it needs, and smoking can add to this strain. Further, treatment for symptomatic HCM involves lowering your heart rate, and smoking increases your heart rate.

Quitting smoking is important for your overall health. It can also support HCM management.

Overall health

If you stop smoking, you can reduce your risk of certain cancers, improve your lung function, and lower your cardiovascular risk. According to the American Lung Association, some of the benefits of quitting are:

  • a lower heart rate
  • lower levels of carbon monoxide in your blood
  • a lower risk of heart attack
  • improvement in lung function
  • less frequent shortness of breath and coughing
  • a lower risk of coronary heart disease
  • a lower risk of stroke
  • a lower risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, bladder, cervix, kidney, and more

For HCM

Doctors typically recommend a heart-healthy lifestyle to manage HCM. That includes a healthy diet, physical activity, quality sleep, and quitting smoking.

Medications to manage HCM usually target symptoms instead of the underlying condition. Only one medication, mavacamten (Camzyos), treats HCM specifically, and it’s prescribed for the obstructive form of HCM.

Medications such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers target HCM symptoms. They might not work as well if you continue to smoke.

Beta-blockers and certain calcium channel blockers are used to treat HCM by lowering your heart rate and controlling HCM symptoms. However, smoking raises your heart rate, which can cause these medications to be less effective.

It’s not easy to quit smoking. Nicotine in cigarettes is addictive, and you might have daily routines that involve smoking. But there are many resources to help you quit, such as calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW to get help from a coach.

Here are some ways you can get started on your journey to quit smoking.

Gradually cut back

Consider choosing a “quit day,” which will be your first day free of smoking cigarettes. Leading up to that day, you can gradually cut back on the number of cigarettes you have every 24 hours.

If you usually have 10 cigarettes per day, cut it back to 8 for 2 to 3 days, then 6 for 2 to 3 days, and so on until you reach your first cigarette-free day. You can keep track on a calendar.

Another option is to smoke less of each cigarette leading up to your quit day. Try to resist the urge to smoke all of each cigarette and consider “butting out” after taking only a few puffs.

Go cold turkey

Quitting cold turkey means stopping the use of all tobacco products, including cigarettes, vaping, and chewing tobacco, on your quit day.

As with any smoking cessation method, you might experience withdrawal symptoms if you stop cold turkey. There are ways to manage these symptoms, such as staying physically active and spending time with others who don’t use nicotine.

Use nicotine aids

Some products can help you manage withdrawal symptoms by providing doses of nicotine. This is called nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).

NRT comes in the form of patches, lozenges, or gum. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some people find it helpful to use more than one type of NRT. A nicotine patch provides an ongoing source of nicotine, while lozenges or gum can satisfy sudden cravings.

NRT gum is not like regular chewing gum. You should chew it in a specific way so that your body absorbs the nicotine. A doctor or pharmacist can help you choose the right dose.

Try prescription medication

There are two prescription medications approved to help people quit smoking: varenicline (Chantix) and bupropion SR (Zyban).

Both medications are available in pill form. Neither of these medications contains nicotine. They work by changing your response to cigarettes. When you’re taking varenicline, it should be harder for you to get a “buzz” from nicotine.

These prescription medications come with side effects and might interact with some medications used to treat symptomatic HCM. It’s best to talk with your doctor or other healthcare professional about the risks and benefits.

According to the American Heart Association, most people with HCM live a typical life span. Some people are at greater risk of complications.

By quitting smoking, you can avoid a major risk factor for heart disease.

HCM is a genetic condition that can make it harder for your heart to pump enough blood. Smoking can increase the risk of heart disease and other complications.

By quitting smoking, you can support your overall health and your HCM management plan.