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Smoking: This is how it affects your heart and blood vessels

Smoking almost does not leave an organ or part of the body without its damages and effects, including the heart and blood vessels in particular, which we will discuss in detail in this article.

​It is no secret to anyone that smoking has many harmful effects on health, even for smokers themselves. Here we will review the effect of smoking on the circulatory system in the body, or in other words, the heart and blood vessels.

Smoking and cardiovascular disease

The chemicals contained in tobacco damage blood cells, and negatively affect the functions of the heart in general and the structure, composition, and functions of blood vessels as well, and all of these factors mentioned together contribute to increasing the chances of developing many cardiovascular diseases, among which we mention the following diseases:

Smoking and arteriosclerosis

It arises from hardening artery disease (Atherosclerosis) when a waxy substance called nature begins Black (Plaque) to accumulate on the walls of the arteries. Over time, this accumulated substance increases its hardness, which leads to narrowing of the arteries and reducing the passage of oxygen-laden blood, which is necessary and extremely important to maintain the health of the organs.

Smoking and coronary artery disease

Coronary heart disease (CHD) occurs when plaque builds up in the coronary arteries in the heart. Over time, the buildup can cause chest pain, angina pectoris, heart failure, irregular heartbeat, or even death.

Smoking and peripheral vascular disease

In this condition, plaque builds upon the walls of the blood vessels that carry blood to the head, organs, and ribs. 

Those with this condition have an increased chance of developing other heart diseases, angina pectoris, and strokes in general.

This disease may particularly affect the feet, impeding the blood flow to the legs, which may lead to:

1. cramps and pain
2. general weakness.
3. Numbness in the pelvis, thighs, or calf muscles.
4. In severe and severe cases, it may cause gangrene, where tissues begin to die, which may eventually lead to the need to amputate the leg.

risk factors

The chances of developing heart disease for a smoker double, if this coincides with his illness and other symptoms, such as:

1. Suffering from unhealthy levels of bad cholesterol.
2. He has high blood pressure.
3. Obesity or overweight.

Passive smoking and cardiovascular disease

Passive smoking also has its share of increasing the chances of heart disease and blood vessels, as a non - smoker inhales many of the same harmful chemicals that are inhaled by the smoker. Passive smoking takes two forms:

1. The non-smoker inhales the smoke directly from the burning tip of the cigarette.
2. A non-smoker inhaled the smoke that was exhaled by the smoker.

Passive smoking and children

Passive smoking increases the chances of future children and adolescents suffering from coronary artery disease because smoke contributes to:

1. Reducing good cholesterol in the body.
2. increased blood pressure;
3. Damage to heart tissue.

The effect of passive smoking appears especially in premature infants, especially those with respiratory diseases, such as asthma, and its effect is usually double the risk for them!

Effect of different types of the tobacco products smoking

Scientists know little about the harms of using pipes and Cuban cigars, but they think that they bear the same harm, as tobacco consists of the same toxic chemicals. However, there is still a need for more studies and research to be certain and know the exact data in this regard.

Smoking in any amount and frequency, even occasional smoking, damages blood vessels and heart function. The danger of smoking to health doubles for women who use contraceptive pills or for people with diabetes. And we must not forget the dangers that passive smoking poses to the people in the vicinity of the smoker. So the next time you light your cigarette to smoke, think twice.