Deteriorating heart health has been one of the leading causes of death for some famous people in the country in recent times. From Raju Srivastava to Siddharth Shukla to KK and many other celebrities have lost their lives due to heart problems. The unfortunate deaths raised questions about the heart health of individuals. Smoking is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular disease worldwide.
According to the Texas Heart Institute, smoking and cigarette smoking increase the risk of several heart diseases. According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the effects of smoking account for approximately 48,000 deaths in the United States. Smoking increases the heart rate, which constricts major arteries and causes an irregular heartbeat. It also increases blood pressure which in turn intensifies strokes.
Dr. Suraj Narasiman, a renowned Cardiologist from Manipal Hospital, Sarjapur, said, “Usually, teenagers who are smokers, drug addicts or suffer from a heart attack are more prone to cardiovascular deaths.” India accounts for nearly one fifth of the deaths occurring globally due to cardiovascular reasons in the young population.
Effects of tobacco on the heart
Smoking affects almost every organ in the body. It affects the entire cardiovascular system which includes the heart, blood and blood vessels. The side effects of smoking on the cardiovascular system can be life-threatening. It can cause serious health problems like stroke or heart failure.
1. High blood pressure
Smoking a cigarette causes high blood pressure because it contains nicotine. Nicotine is a very harmful chemical that increases an individual’s blood pressure. In turn, high blood pressure damages the arteries making them less elastic, reducing the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart and leading to heart disease.
2. Atherosclerosis
When you smoke a cigarette, the chemicals it contains cause atherosclerosis, which is the buildup of fats, cholesterol, and other substances in the walls of the arteries. This buildup is called plaque. These plaques cause the arteries to harden and narrow, limiting blood flow and oxygen supply to vital organs and increasing the risk of blood clots that block blood flow to the heart and brain.
3. Coronary artery disease
Coronary artery disease occurs when the heart’s arteries are unable to supply enough blood to the heart. Smoking increases plaque formation in blood vessels. These plaques are limited by clots. The chemicals in cigarette smoke can cause the blood to thicken and form clots in the veins and arteries.
4 impacts
Smoking forms plaques and clots that block blood vessels in the body. When the same thing happens in the brain, it causes a stroke.
5. Heart Attack
Smoking blocks blood flow to the heart and causes heart attack, also known as myocardial infarction. Smoking causes permanent damage to an individual’s heart and blood vessels.
(Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment.)
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