Heart Health Month is a great opportunity to quit smoking! Smoking increases your risk of developing heart disease and stroke, since it contributes to plaque buildup in arteries, reduces blood oxygen levels, increases the risk of blood clots, and makes your heart work harder. Luckily, your body starts to recover immediately once you stop smoking. Smoking involves not just a physical addiction, but also psychological and behavioural habits that can be hard to break. Many pharmacists can assist smokers through the free P.A.C.T. program, which is designed to lead people through a personalized process to quit smoking.