Biological Effects and Disease

Cardiovascular Damage from Smoking

Smoking damages the body most in the cardiovascular system and has been linked to heart disease as one of the leading causes. In the US, 30% of all deaths due to heart disease are related to smoking. Smoking also causes the blood vessels to stiffen and rupture much easily. This increases cholesterol and clogs the arteries, raising blood pressure and making circulation of blood to the extremities very poor. Cigarettes contain a chemical called nicotine, a highly addictive drug, and once it is in the blood stream, it causes the heart to beat faster and the blood pressure to rise. The extra work creates more chances for a heart attack, myocardial infraction, or coronary artery disease.

Carbon monoxide can cause coronary spasms while smoking, leading to a heart attack. Also, the carbon dioxide in smoke has a much higher chemical affinity than oxygen for red-blood cells; therefore, smoking constricts the blood vessels and replaces the oxygen in the blood with carbon dioxide. Smoking has also been established as a risk factor for the development of angina. Angina is a condition caused in the heart when not enough blood reaches the heart muscle itself, and thus not as much oxygen reaches the heart. From this point, myocardial infarction, or heart attack can occur. Smokers also have twice the mortality rate related to cardiovascular damage as non-smokers. Within 5 to 15 years after quitting, an ex-smokers cardiovascular chance of stroke will be similar to those of someone who has never smoked. However, improvements in the cardiovascular system are apparent immediately after quitting smoking.