Smoking provides relief from daily tensions. Many smoke because they are habituated to it and would like to escape from daily pressures of life. Tobacco is not good for health and those addicted to nicotine face many health problems. Both tobacco and nicotine are what smokers are exposed to. They light up cigarettes to release their pent up emotions. Some switch over to pipes as they feel it is a better option to cigarettes. Whether they are cigarettes, cigars, pipes the seriousness of smoking as a health hazard continues to be the same.

Several anti-smoking campaigns have been organized to inform the public about the hazards of smoking. They have made constant efforts to curtail smoking. In fact, in many countries public smoking is banned. About 20% of all deaths related to heart in the U.S. are due to smoking.

Smoking affects the body system in many ways. People can suffer from lung and throat cancer and also cardiovascular diseases. The proper functioning of the heart is at a risk in case people smoke too much. How does the heart get affected by smoking?

Smoking and Heart

• Smoking causes atherosclerosis- In this condition the lining of the artery deteriorates and fat deposits and plaque block the blood flow through the arteries. In coronary artery disease, the arteries that supply blood become narrow and restrict the flow of oxygen laden blood to the heart, especially when there is increased activity. The extra pressure on the heart in pumping the blood causes chest pain. When one of the coronary artery gets blocked, it results in heart attack, which is an injury to the heart.
• A smoker is at risk of heart attack. The more cigarettes he or she smokes, the chance of suffering from a heart attack are high.
• Increased risk of stroke.
• Blood clotting can occur.
• Passive smokers exposed to the smoke are also at a risk of a heart attack and cardio vascular disease. Even though, they do not smoke, they inhale the smoke.
• Increase in number of deaths due to heart diseases.
• Increase in cholesterol as well as carbon monoxide levels, which are bad for the heart.
• Tobacco smoke can increase the count of white blood cells, which is a risk factor for heart diseases.
• Nicotine can trigger off palpitations.
• Smokers can develop abdominal aortic aneurysms.
• Decreased supply of oxygen to the heart.
• Smoking raises blood pressure.
• Cigarette smoking affects circulation.

Smoking is definitely bad for the heart. Too much smoking can cause several heart diseases. Smokers need to cut down on the number of cigarettes they are smoking to avoid heart related health problems.

Related posts from Past:

1. Top 15 Effects of Smoking on the Heart
2. Top 15 Facts About Tobacco and Cigarette Smoking
3. Top 20 Hazards of Smoking We Are Exposed To
4. Long term and Short term Effects of Tobacco
5. Top 20 Negative Effect of Smoking on Health