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HWN Suggests

Another Reason to Quit Smoking Right Now

You may have heard the stat that a smoker's risk of cardiovascular-related disease and death drops to that of a never-smoker within 15 years of quitting. (Pretty sweet, right?) Well, researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham decided to look deeper into that connection -- and they found that for some folks, that "recovery" time might actually be even shorter than 15 years... Need we remind you: Smoking doesn't just harm your heart; it also causes emphysema, COPD and cancer. Plus it ages your skin and makes you smell like REALLY bad.

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 A Systematic Review of the Effects of Smoking on the Cardiovascular System and General Health

The main risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is smoking. Nicotine and carbon monoxide are two dangerous substances that are found in cigarette smoke. The increased heart rate can have an almost instantaneous impact on the heart and blood vessels. Smoking is well known to cause oxidative stress, endanger the lining of the arteries, and accelerate the accumulation of fatty plaque in the blood vessels. It raises the danger of sudden thrombotic events, inflammatory alterations, and low-density lipoprotein oxidation. The smoke's carbon monoxide decreases the blood's capacity to deliver oxygen, adding to the heart's stress. Notably, these risks increase when diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and glucose intolerance are present

 Nicotine and the cardiovascular system: unmasking a global public health threat

Importantly, this is the first expert consensus paper to address nicotine itself as a direct CV toxin, independent of combustion. Special attention is given to the paediatric addiction crisis, driven by flavoured products and aggressive marketing, and to the misleading narrative of ‘safer nicotine.’ Tobacco smoking and other nicotine-containing products remain among the leading causes of premature mortality worldwide, with CV disease (CVD) as the largest single contributor.

Articles of Interest

A person holding a cigarette in their hand, showcasing a common habit with potential health risks. Smoking, vaping and your heart

It is well known that cigarette smoking has serious damaging effects on your health. But there is still a lot that we don’t know about how your body reacts to vaping. However, the current evidence suggests that vaping is also bad for your heart.

Cardiovascular Effects of Smoking and Smoking Cessation: A 2024 Update

Smoking is a significant risk factor for both acute and chronic cardiovascular diseases. These diseases contribute to approximately twenty percent of all-cause mortality. Research indicates that quitting smoking can substantially reduce or even reverse the harmful effects associated with smoking on cardiovascular health. Notably, these benefits can be observed in a relatively short period compared to the duration of smoking history.

Effects of smoking on heart health

Smoking also doubles the risk of heart attack and stroke and increases the risk of peripheral arterial disease by more than five times.

Even Smoking Just One Cigarette a Day Is Dangerous

Popping out of the office for a solitary post-lunch cigarette doesn’t seem like such a big deal. However, that habit – as minor as it seems – is reportedly far more dangerous than health experts had previously believed. In fact, researchers have discovered that smoking one cigarette a day raises the risk of heart disease and stroke to about half the risk of smoking 20 a day.

Heart disease risk greater for women smokers

Smoking is more likely to give women heart disease than men, a study has found. Toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke may have a more potent effect on women due to biological differences, scientists believe. US researchers analysed pooled data on around 4 million individuals from 86 studies. After adjusting for other risk factors, they found the increased risk of heart disease linked to smoking was 25% higher for women.

Smoke Gets In Your Heart

The analysis says there's compelling evidence, though not yet proof, that less than an hour's exposure to secondhand smoke can trigger a heart attack in someone with underlying cardiac disease. Since many people don't know if they're at risk, that means everyone should avoid smoky environments.

Smoking & Heart Disease: The Deadly Connection

In summary, smoking not only damages the lungs but also has severe repercussions on the heart and blood vessels. The increased blood pressure, reduced blood flow, and higher risk of blood clots and stroke highlight the serious risks smokers face when it comes to heart disease. It’s important to understand the damaging effects of smoking and make efforts to quit in order to protect your heart and overall health.

Smoking and Heart Disease in Women

It may surprise you to learn that smoking increases the risk of heart disease and stroke by two to four times. Also, women who smoke have a 25% higher risk of developing heart disease compared to men who smoke. And continuing to smoke throughout your life can shave off 11 to 12 years. So, despite beliefs to the contrary, smoking doesn’t just cause a risk for lung cancer.

Smoking in pregnancy may raise child’s heart disease risk by 15%

g that smoking while pregnant increases the child’s risk of heart disease may help inspire smoking mums to quit. Flickr Share article Print article Women who smoke while pregnant may raise the resulting child’s risk of developing heart disease by as much as 15%, a new study has found. Smoking during pregnancy has previously been linked to fetal health problems such as low birth weight and cot death but the new research represents the first time smoking by mums-to-be has been associated with heart disease risk in the child.

Tobacco responsible for 20% of deaths from coronary heart disease

Just a few cigarettes a day, occasional smoking, or exposure to second-hand smoke increase the risk of heart disease. But if tobacco users take immediate action and quit, then their risk of heart disease will decrease by 50% after one year of not smoking.

Vaping May Be Worse for Heart Health Than Tobacco Cigarettes, New Study Finds

This is among the first studies on the heart-health effects of e-cigarettes, though some observational studies have found that vaping is associated with a higher risk or heart attack. But it’s one of many recent reports linking vaping to serious health concerns.

Vaping might seem safer than smoking but your heart could tell a different story

As vaping becomes more common in these same communities, a new form of nicotine use could be replacing one heart risk with another. Many people now switch from cigarettes to vapes to reduce harm, but growing evidence suggests the benefits may not be as clear-cut as once thought.

What a drag: The dangers of a daily cigarette

Smoking just one cigarette a day appears to raise the risk of heart disease and stroke by between 48% and 74%, according to a study in the Jan. 24, 2018, issue of The BMJ.

Resources

CDC

Smoking is a major cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and is responsible for one in every four deaths from CVD.

NIH

Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease. The chemicals you inhale when you smoke cause damage to your heart and blood vessels that makes you more likely to develop atherosclerosis, or plaque buildup in the arteries. Any amount of smoking, even occasional smoking, can cause this damage to the heart and blood vessels. Smoking poses an even greater risk for some people, especially for women who use birth control pills and people with diabetes.