Cigarette smoking has so many risks that the U.S. Surgeon General determined that smoking is the "leading preventable cause" of deaths and diseases in the United States, according to the American Heart Association. Smoking affects the cardiovascular system in several ways, all of which increase the risk for diseases that impair the functions of the heart and blood vessels.
Atherosclerosis
The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute defines atherosclerosis as a buildup of plaque -- a fatty substance -- in the arteries. The chemicals found in cigarettes increase the risk for atherosclerosis because of the damage they cause to the cells of the blood vessels and heart. As atherosclerosis worsens, the plaque hardens and creates blockages in the arteries. This makes it difficult for the heart to pump oxygenated blood to other organs.
Heart Disease
Smoking cigarettes increases the risk of coronary artery disease by two to four times, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Heart disease occurs when plaque accumulation from atherosclerosis builds up in the arteries of the heart. Without proper treatment and monitoring, patients with heart disease can also experience heart attacks, abnormal heart rhythms, chest pains and heart failure.
High Blood Pressure
A study published in the December 2005 issue of the "European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing" determined how much of an impact smoking cigarettes has on blood pressure levels. The study involved a group of 3,832 smokers and 10,478 nonsmokers. The participants' blood pressure levels and heart rates were recorded three times during the study. The smokers were found to have "significantly higher" systolic blood pressure levels, arterial blood pressure levels and diastolic blood pressure levels than the nonsmokers.
Peripheral Artery Disease
Smoking cigarettes increases the risk of peripheral artery disease, a condition that occurs when plaque blocks the flow of blood in the large arteries of the limbs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains that smoking narrows the blood vessels in the limbs and reduces circulation, eventually leading to peripheral artery disease. Complications of this condition include gangrene, arm and leg pain, and tissue death.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Abdominal aortic aneurysm refers to a weakening of the aorta, the main artery in the circulatory system. Weakened areas of the aorta have the potential to rupture, causing serious complications. Without immediate treatment, the risk of fatality for this condition is high. The number of cigarettes a person smokes and how deep a person inhales cigarette smoke impact the risk for developing an abdominal aortic aneurysm, according to the USC Center for Vascular Care.
References
- American Heart Association: Cigarette Smoking and Cardiovascular Diseases
- NHLBI: How Does Smoking Affect the Heart and Blood Vessels?
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Health Effects of Cigarette Smoking
- "European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing"; Does Smoking Affect Blood Pressure and Heart Rate?; Al-Safi, SA; December 2005
- USC Center for Vascular Care: Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
