Cigarette Smoking and Cardiovascular Disease
According to the American Heart Association, cigarette smoking is the most preventable cause of premature death in the United States. It is responsible for more than 440,000 of the 2.4 million deaths due to heart disease. Smoking cigarettes compounds the risks for other disorders, such as hypercholesterolemia, certain types of cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and it is the chief contributor to heart attacks.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is a deadly gas that is a byproduct of burning tobacco. Carbon monoxide has been found to increase the levels of low density lipoproteins and lower high density lipoproteins (the good type of cholesterol). It also impairs the red blood cells' ability to deliver oxygen to the body by saturating hemoglobin and depriving the tissues of oxygen.
Raising the Heart Rate
When carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke saturates the hemoglobin in the red blood cells, the heart beats faster and works harder to deliver adequate amounts of oxygen to the cells. Also, the nicotine contained in cigarette smoke can potentially cause heart palpitations.
Smoking and Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is a form or arteriosclerosis that affects the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart tissue. Cigarette smoke significantly increases the rate of atherosclerosis, causing calcified plaque on the inside of the walls of the coronary arteries. The plaque can eventually occlude blood supply to the heart or cause pieces of plaque to break off, causing embolisms.
Blood Vessel Constriction
As little as one cigarette has been shown to significantly impair blood circulation for up to 45 minutes by constricting the walls of small blood vessels. Extremities like hands and feet are particularly at risk, causing a number of other secondary complications due to poor circulation. With poor circulation, the heart has to increase its rate and output to continue delivering blood to the extremities.
