What is the Relationship between Smoking and Heart Disease?

It’s a common knowledge that smoking poses a serious health risk mainly on the lungs and result to breathing problems. However, unknown to many, there is actually an important connection between smoking and heart disease, as the former has been indentified to be a major risk factor in contributing cardiovascular diseases both among men and women. In fact, studies have show that 20% of the heart disease-related deaths in the United States are reportedly in direct relation to smoking.

The percentage of contracting heart-related problems is greatly determined by the number of cigarettes a person smokes. The longer the particular person smokes, the higher the risk of a heart attack. But does smoking and heart disease add up? As we all know, cigarettes contain considerable amount of nicotine, that when introduced to the body can result to serious effects such as the decrease of oxygen supply to the heart, increase in the possibility of blood clots, increase in heart rate and blood pressure as well as cause damage to the cells that line up on the coronary arteries as well as other blood vessels.

Needless to say, quitting smoking can prove beneficial to one’s health. Among the positive effects include prolonged life span, reduced risks of heart attack and high blood pressures as well as improved sense of smell and taste. However, many people find it close to impossible to stop smoking. Often, the health threats are not enough to encourage them to stop. The important thing to do is to set goals, and mark a feasible target date. It is also a good idea to understand why you feel the need to smoke and what triggers that craving. A support group can also prove to be instrumental in helping a person stop smoking.

So now that you have a better idea on how smoking and heart disease are closely related, hopefully you will think twice about lighting yet another stick. Sure, smoking may bring a certain degree pleasure, but the serious risks and the dire consequences are simply too much to bear. If you know someone, or you are a smoker yourself, it is about time to stop while you are still in the peak of health rather than deal with its adverse effects.