It's tough when you're a teenager. Drama. Trying to find a place to fit. Hormonal changes. The hardest part for Tonya was the pressure from her peers. She was still a teenager when her friends pressured her to smoke for the first time. By the time she turned 16, she was already eating up to one pack a day.
As time went on, the toll grew. She was diagnosed with heart failure due to her smoking when she was 38 years old, and in 2013 she had a heart pump called a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) installed in her chest to pump blood throughout her body. I had to insert it into . She carried a backpack with batteries to operate her LVAD and had to sleep at night near an electrical outlet to which her LVAD could be connected. After inserting her pump, Tonya and her family noticed that her breathing was irregular. It was easier and she had more energy. Still, her damage was done and she was placed on the list for her heart transplant. Unfortunately, Tonya passed away in 2022 at the age of 53.
Tonya started smoking at age 16 and needed a heart pump at age 38. (Photo provided by NKHD)
There are many stories like Tonya, who shared her story with the Centers for Disease Control as part of the Tips from Ex-Smokers campaign. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. Each year, approximately 805,000 people in the United States have a heart attack, and every 33 seconds, one person dies from cardiovascular disease. Approximately 1 in 5 heart attacks are asymptomatic. In other words, the person is not aware of it, but the damage is being done.
February is American Heart Month, a time to draw attention to the heart and ways to protect it. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, living a healthy lifestyle can help maintain normal blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels, lowering your risk of heart disease and heart attack. The Northern Kentucky Health Department can help you with that. We offer a variety of services to help prevent heart disease, including:
• exercise. NKY Health is partnering with LiveWell NKY, a community-wide initiative aimed at increasing physical activity and improving health outcomes for Northern Kentucky residents. For more information, visit nkyhealth.org/ahealthieryou.
• School health. The best way to develop healthy habits is to start young. That's why NKY Health works with local schools to promote healthier eating, including our March Healthy Challenge and his October Farm to School Program. For more information, visit nkyhealth.org/coowned-school-health.
• Quit smoking. Quitting smoking improves your heart health and improves your quality of life. NKY Health offers free advice and support services for people who want to quit smoking, and we also offer free nicotine patches. Special confidential support is also provided to young people.For more information, visit nkyhealth.org/quitsmoking
• Weight management. Proper weight management and physical activity can help lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels. NKY Health offers free monthly OFF support group sessions for weight management led by registered dietitians. This program is not a diet; it's about learning how to lose and manage weight through long-term lifestyle changes. For more information and to join the group, visit nkyhealth.org/ahealthieryou.
• nutrition. Eating a healthy diet lowers your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, reducing your risk of developing coronary artery disease. Nutritional assessment, counseling, and education are included as part of many of the Health Department's programs. Patients with a doctor's referral may also receive specialized dietary counseling from a nutritionist. Individual counseling is also available at NKY Health's four county health centers. For more information, visit nkyhealth.org/ahealthieryou.
Northern Kentucky Department of Health
