Smoking is considered to be bad for health, Smokers smoke because they get much pleasure out of it. But they are at the same time causing a lot of damage to their body systems. Many activists are making an all out effort to encourage smokers to give up the habit.

Although, there are several diseases that can crop up due to smoking, the heart is also very vulnerable to smoking. Let us try to understand this phenomenon better.

How Heart is affected by Smoking?

• Smoking increases cholesterol levels.
• Increase in carbon monoxide in the blood, affecting the flow of oxygen thus causing a heart attack.
• Carbon monoxide also boosts the white blood cell levels.
• Cigarette smoking increases the chance of coronary heart disease.
• Smoking also increases blood pressure which is bad for the heart.
• Increases the risk for blood clots.
• It increases the risk of recurrent coronary heart disease after a bypass surgery has been done.
• Women who smoke and also take contraceptive pills are prone to coronary heart disease as well as stroke.
• Smoking decreases HDL (good cholesterol).
• Those with a family history of heart disease and also smoke are prone to heart diseases.
• Cigarette smoking is risk factor for strokes.
• Passive smoking or second-hand smoke is also bad for the heart.
• Smoking is also risk for aortic aneurysm and arterial diseases.
• Decreases exercise tolerance.
• Increases heart rate.

Smoking affects the heart in many ways. One must avoid smoking in order to prevent cardiovascular diseases. A smoker is at risk of heart attack or a stroke. It is better to quit the habit.

Related posts from Past:

1. Smoking and its Effect on the Heart
2. Effects of Smoking on Cholesterol Levels
3. Long term and Short term Effects of Tobacco
4. Top 20 Hazards of Smoking We Are Exposed To
5. List of Diseases Caused by Smoking – Conditions Caused by Smoking