Smoking, or the act of breathing and exhaling tobacco smoke, has a long and complex history that is inextricably linked to human culture, economy, and health. Smoking can be life-threatening because it can cause several problems related to the heart and lungs. There are several tips to quit the habit of smoking that can be beneficial for your health.
Some common heart diseases that can be caused by smoking.
There are several diseases that can be caused by smoking.
- Coronary artery disease: Smoking is a leading cause of CAD, which occurs when plaque formation narrows the coronary arteries, limiting blood flow to the heart. This can cause angina, heart attacks and other issues.
- Heart attack: Smoking can increase the risk of heart attack by encouraging atherosclerosis, blood clot formation and limiting oxygen flow to the heart muscle.
- Stroke: Smoking doubles the chance of an ischemic stroke, which is caused by a blockage in a blood vessel that supplies blood to the brain.
- Peripheral artery disease: Smoking raises the risk of PAD, a disorder in which plaque formation narrows the arteries in the legs and other peripheral arteries, resulting in decreased blood flow to the extremities.
- Aortic Aneurysm: Smoking weakens the aortic walls, the body’s most prominent artery, increasing the risk of aneurysms. Aorta aneurysms form when a weakening piece of the aorta wall bulges or balloons outward.
- Arrhythmias: Smoking can cause or exacerbate abnormal cardiac rhythms such as atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, and other irregularities.
- Heart Failure: Smoking harms the heart muscle and blood arteries, increasing the risk of heart failure, which occurs when the heart cannot pump enough blood to satisfy the body’s needs.
Correlation between smoking and heart attack.
The link between smoking and heart attacks is well documented. Smoking increases the risk of cardiac disease, including heart attacks, for various reasons:
- Atherosclerosis: Smoking promotes the development of atherosclerosis, a condition in which plaque accumulates inside the arteries, narrowing them and limiting blood flow to the heart.
- Increase blood pressure: Smoking increases blood pressure both temporarily and over time, eventually leading to hypertension. High blood pressure puts additional strain on the heart and blood vessels, raising the risk of a heart attack.
- Reduced Oxygen Supply: Smoking reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood. This implies that the heart must work harder to provide oxygen-rich blood to the body’s tissues, including the heart muscle itself.
- Blood Clot Formation: Smoking causes blood platelets to become more sticky, increasing their likelihood of forming clots inside blood vessels. These blood clots can obstruct coronary arteries, causing heart attacks.
- Damage to blood vessels: Smoking affects the inner lining of blood arteries, making them more prone to plaque formation and constriction. Damaged blood arteries are also less able to dilate and adapt to changes in blood flow, which raises the risk of heart attack.
- Inflammation: Smoking causes inflammation all across the body, including the arteries. Chronic inflammation promotes the formation and progression of atherosclerosis and raises the risk of heart attack.
- Impact on Cholesterol Levels: Smoking can reduce high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, often known as good cholesterol, while increasing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or bad cholesterol.
Nowadays, heart problems are widespread for different reasons. Smoking is the main reason for several heart conditions. Contact the best cardiologist in Punjab at the best hospital, Deepak Heart institute.
