Smoking Heart Disease - How Does Smoking Hurt Your Heart

Everyone knows that smoking is a killer. It is the main cause of heart disease in the US each year, and heart disease is the leading cause of death. Smoking increases your risk for the hurt you cause to your heart and other related illnesses every time you light up. These risks include:

• Heart attack


• Stroke


• Cancer


• Peripheral vascular disease

Smoking causes in increase of cholesterol deposits in the coronary (heart) arteries, which can lead to a heart attack. Cholesterol causes a narrowing of the arteries, or cardiovascular disease. The narrowing of the arteries causes blockage, preventing the flow of blood, oxygen, and nutrients to other parts of the body. It also causes your heart to work harder, which can result in your heart muscle to enlarge (cardiomegaly). This will significantly decrease your heart's ability to pump effectively.

Smoking causes nicotine into the bloodstream via the lungs. As the heart pumps blood through the body, blood must pass through the the lungs to pick up oxygen to feed the rest of the body tissues. This is how easy it is for nicotine to enter the blood, causing rush of adrenalin and a nice shot of energy. The adrenaline results in an increased heart rate and also constricts the arteries. This makes for a rise in your blood pressure. If you are already hypertensive, this will be an added load on your heart.

Smoking cigarettes also contributes to hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis. The arteries of the body become stiff, which can result in cracks in the plaque formed by the cholesterol deposits, leading to blood clots that can travel through the body and lodge in major organs such as the heart, lungs, and kidneys.

The toxic effects of cigarette smoke can cause the arteries to become inflamed, making it that much easier for plaque formation to occur. This injury to the lining of the blood vessels cause blood cells and other debris to stick to the walls of the artery causing further damage and occlusion to blood flow.

Second hand smoke may not be as dangerous as lighting up a cigarette, but can cause one's health to suffer as well. Exposure to smoke is not risk free by any means. It is estimated that nonsmokers have a 25% - 30% risk of heart disease, as well as a 20% to 30% increased risk for lung cancer.

It does not matter how long you have smoked or how many packs you have inhaled. It is never too late to quit. Your body will heal over time and your risks of dying of a smoke related illness will decrease. There is help by contacting your health care provider, who can offer ways to help you to successfully kick the habit.

by Barb Hicks, RN/LMT