The effect of smoking on the heart - what harm do cigarettes cause?

The monstrous consequences of smoking threaten not only the respiratory system. Directly or indirectly, the addiction deals a stunning blow to almost every cell of the human body.

Toxins and carcinogens enter the bloodstream through the bronchi and lungs and spread throughout the body, damaging, poisoning... killing!

One of the first to suffer is the cardiovascular system. The “motor” wears out, which can lead to the most disastrous consequences.

What happens to the heart from smoking? What happens if there is a sudden refusal? Is it possible and how to correct the situation? This will be discussed in detail in this article.

Can smoking cigarettes make you sick?

Yes maybe. Rapid pulse, dizziness, shortness of breath - this is only a minimal set of symptoms that accompany a smoker in the early stages. Further, stabbing pain in the chest, nausea, and loss of strength may appear. The cause of all these troubles is often heart problems, and the provocateur of their occurrence is smoking.

“Bouquets” of complex diseases are acquired, among which diseases of the cardiovascular system occupy a leading position, and many of them are accompanied by pain symptoms.

What to do?

According to doctors, giving up smoking is no less difficult than giving up alcoholic beverages or any other addiction, so during this period you should take care of your well-being and the state of the nervous system in advance:

  • proper rest and restful sleep will help cope with pressure drops and a constant feeling of fatigue;
  • If you experience heart pain, you should give up physical activity and try to avoid any negative emotions; long leisurely walks, meeting pleasant people and favorite activities will help you cope with irritation and reduce discomfort in the body.
  • If you have a history of cardiovascular diseases or suspect their development, you must immediately consult a doctor and regularly measure your blood pressure and monitor the number of heartbeats - constantly measure your pulse.
  • Do not forget about the possibility of exacerbation of diseases of other organs and systems; if pain in the heart appears after smoking, you should visit a pulmonologist, have an unscheduled fluorography or x-ray, since against the background of stress, an unexpected exacerbation or development of diseases is possible.

Why does it hurt and colitis when inhaling after smoking?

Poisons and tars that enter the body along with tobacco smoke displace oxygen , leading to hypoxia (little oxygen in the inhaled air), and then to hypoxemia (“oxygen starvation” of the body). To make up for the deficiency, the heart is forced to increase its beat. Muscle wear accelerates and angina develops.

The disease is accompanied by pain symptoms in the chest area, often on the left. The heart beats strongly, there may be pain in the left shoulder or arm, hand.

If your heart hurts, you need to put two nitroglycerin tablets under your tongue . If after a few minutes the pain does not subside, you need to urgently call an ambulance - perhaps part of the muscle tissue has died, or a heart attack has occurred!

It is impossible to cope with this condition on your own. The risk of cardiac arrest increases significantly.

There are other reasons, which we will look at in more detail in the next chapter.

Possible diseases

Taking into account the changes that occur in blood vessels under the influence of nicotine, we can draw a conclusion as to what diseases a smoker may develop.

Myocardial infarction

The effect of smoking on blood vessels causes hypoxemia due to their narrowing, that is, there is little oxygen in the blood. The harm of nicotine is metabolic disorders, increased blood pressure, and jumps in catecholamine levels in the blood. Resins accumulate on the vascular walls, spasms occur, and the heart has to work harder . Carbon monoxide from tobacco smoke reduces the amount of oxygen reaching the heart.

The listed pathologies are a condition of increased blood clotting, which causes the formation of blood clots in the vessels and heart. The detachment of clots causes a heart attack, and if this happens in the vessels of the brain, a stroke. Symptoms of the disease are bright and painful:

  • pressure surge;
  • chest pain;
  • heartbeat disturbance;
  • dyspnea.

It is impossible to independently determine why pain in the heart area begins and whether this symptom can turn out to be dangerous. Therefore, if severe discomfort occurs, it is recommended to see a doctor .

Attention! Death among smokers is 40% more common than among those who do not have a bad habit.

Cardiac ischemia

The onset of coronary artery disease depends on how the delivery of oxygen through the coronary vessels affects the functioning of the heart. As a result of smoking, they wear out and age prematurely. Carbon dioxide is lighter than oxygen and enters the heart muscle faster. As a result, combining with hemoglobin in the blood, it provokes oxygen starvation of the organ. This happens as follows:

  1. The smoker inhales the smoke and within 60 seconds the pressure begins to rise.
  2. The heart has to work twice as hard.
  3. Tobacco toxins (oxidized cadmium, nitrogen, hydrogen, cyanide) aggravate the process and prevent oxygen from being delivered to the organs.

The result of the pathological process is a heart attack with pain after smoking a cigarette. In the chronic stage, the disease causes dysfunction of the heartbeat, breathing, and circulation .

Other diseases

In addition to the above, the following pathologies occur:

  • Atherosclerosis is the formation of deposits on the walls of blood vessels and narrowing of the lumen due to increased cholesterol levels.
  • Hypertension is increased blood pressure due to spasms and narrowing of blood vessels.
  • Thrombophlebitis is the formation of blood clots that cause stagnation and dilation of veins.
  • Obliterating endarteritis is a lesion of the arteries of the lower extremities, provoked by the closure of the vascular lumens and their necrosis.

Each of these diseases can lead a person to disability, loss of motor activity, pain and unsatisfactory physical condition. The quality of life decreases, patients require long-term, expensive treatment .

How does nicotine affect the functioning of the “engine” and human blood vessels?

The impact is extremely negative . Directly and indirectly, tobacco smoke toxins can cause almost all known dysfunctions of this system that could be avoided after quitting.

Let's look at several main factors of the influence of cigarette smoke on the cardiovascular system and compare the statistics of their occurrence with a non-smoking person . It should be understood that this is only part of the causes and consequences - there can be many more problems.

How is it harmful?ConsequenceRisk relative to non-smokers
Decreased blood oxygen levelsHypoxia - hypoxemia - increased load on the heart2 – 3 times higher
Metabolic diseaseLack of nutrients - organ dysfunction, incl. hearts Three times higher
Impact of toxins on blood vesselsConstriction of blood vessels - increased blood pressure - increased heart rate - rapid wear and tear of the heartMore than twice
Increased blood clottingBlood clots - risk of heart attack, stroke, cardiac arrest5 times higher
Decrease in the hormone prostacyclin, etc.Chronic diseases of the cardiovascular and other body systemsTwice as often
Increased levels of cholesterol and other elementsThe formation of atherosclerotic plaques - the risk of ischemia, heart attack, cardiac arrest2 times higher
Sharp increase in heart rateThe heart is pounding - the resource is decreasing (rapid wear)An order of magnitude higher

All these reasons and many others can lead to chronic heart disease, and as a consequence to its rapid wear and tear. If you feel dizzy or have a pounding heartbeat after smoking a cigarette, these are loud signals to immediately consult a doctor.

Can smoking affect the functioning of the heart?

Smoking leads to the following consequences:

  1. Shortness of breath during minor exertion. Smokers have a significantly reduced supply of oxygen to the blood due to carbon monoxide contained in smoke. As a result, the smoker experiences heart failure or shortness of breath during the slightest physical effort.
  2. Arrhythmia. The tars contained in tobacco products cause the heart of a smoker to contract faster. Cardiac arrhythmia appears.
  3. Tachycardia - the heart beats rapidly. Nicotine is a stimulant, especially when combined with caffeine. Those who like to smoke while drinking a cup of coffee experience a sharp rise in blood pressure, their heart beats strongly and their heart rate increases. The pulse rate increases by 15%, which leads to tachycardia.
  4. Cardiac ischemia. Smoking helps increase fat and accumulate cholesterol in the circulatory system. As a result, cholesterol plaques form, which clog blood vessels and lead to coronary heart disease.
  5. Myocardial infarction. Substances contained in cigarettes increase blood clotting. Blood clots form in the heart cavity. When they come off, they can enter any internal organ and lead to such serious consequences as myocardial infarction or cerebral stroke. Tobacco consumption changes hormonal levels and reduces prostacyclin levels. This helps the occurrence of heart muscle diseases, has a bad effect on the myocardium and aggravates chronic diseases.

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Test for smokers

Smoking for heart problems in men and women

Unfortunately, diseases can develop without smoking . They may already be present and caused by this addiction. What happens in the body if the harmful effects of tobacco smoke are added to existing diseases?

Smoking can both provoke the appearance of diseases and aggravate the course of existing ones.

Arrhythmia

This is a heart rhythm disorder. It may be associated with tachycardia (increased pulse and heartbeat) or bradycardia (when, on the contrary, the body slows down the heart).

If such conditions are caused by sports (increased) or relaxation (decreased), then they can be considered normal. However, if signs of arrhythmia appear for no reason, and especially after smoking, this is a reason to urgently consult a doctor.

Cardiac ischemia

In this case, we are talking about obstruction of blood flow through the vessels. This may be due to their narrowing or blockage . We have already found out that smoking provokes these phenomena, incl. the appearance of atherosclerotic plaques.

If the disease has already developed, interruptions occur, further smoking can aggravate the situation, up to complete blockage of the blood flow. This can lead to heart attacks, strokes and sudden death.

Meet Alena. And she hasn't smoked for over a year! Alena quit smoking four times, but without success. Then she bought Monastery tea and never returned to the bad habit.

For congenital heart disease

This is not an acquired disease; a person gets it from birth. People who are faced with this disease spend their whole lives fighting it, but if in such circumstances they smoke and do not give up this monstrous habit, resistance may turn out to be useless, all efforts will be nullified.

Heart cancer

Heart tissue, like others in the body, is susceptible to cancer. Tobacco smoking contributes to the development of diseases and introduces carcinogens into the body, which provoke these terrible ailments.

Heart cancer is a colloquial name for oncological processes in this organ. The disease rarely appears directly in the heart; more often it is affected by metastases, the focus of which is the tissue of other organs.

Smoking can cause malignant tumors!

Effect on the cardiovascular system

Smoking causes rapid aging and wear of the main human organ, destroys blood vessels, and contributes to the formation of deposits on their walls. These phenomena give rise to terrible diseases - heart attack, cardiac ischemia, atherosclerosis, hypertension, obliterating endarteritis, thrombophlebitis.

Keep in mind! The danger is that organs become damaged as toxins accumulate. It is impossible to predict when toxic substances will lead to heart failure.

When tobacco components enter the blood, they reach the heart and penetrate the vascular walls within 23 seconds . This is the period of the blood circulation cycle, during which every cell of the body feels the toxic effect. The following changes are observed:

  1. After smoking three cigarettes, you expose your blood vessels to spasms for half an hour.
  2. A pack of cigarettes per day keeps the cardiovascular system in a constant state of tension.
  3. Under the influence of nicotine, the lumens narrow, and the permeability of the blood flow decreases.
  4. Organ tissues do not receive normal nutrition due to poor circulation , this harms their functionality.

With many years of smoking, the walls of blood vessels become less elastic and susceptible to damage. As a result, they rupture or become blocked, which results in a heart attack, stroke, or the formation of a blood clot, followed by its separation and death.

The heart rate increases due to increased stress, the functioning of the organ is disrupted due to the narrowing of small arteries, and due to a decrease in the venous lumen, interruptions in the pulse and pain in the heart begin. Regular spasms cause necrosis of areas of the heart muscle and blood vessels of the brain. If these areas are extensive, then the person dies from a heart attack or stroke. Thus, how the habit affects blood vessels directly depends on the length of smoking and the number of cigarettes per day.

If smoking is harmful and kills, then why do you continue?

Smokers find a lot of reasons why they need a cigarette. Most often you can find these:

  • calms the nerves;
  • energizes;
  • stops cough;
  • gives pleasure;
  • allows you to concentrate.

In most cases, this is self-deception ! Perhaps only stopping the morning cough is true, but this is not a positive aspect, quite the opposite - a cigarette blocks the body’s ability to resist toxins and the smoker’s cough stops, and the accumulation of poisons increases.

There is only one reason for not quitting smoking – addiction ! It can be both physiological and psychological. A person does not pay attention to the fact that his heart is beating strongly, that it is difficult for him to breathe, that other alarming symptoms appear - he finds an explanation for his cowardice and continues the destructive process.

Causes of heart pain after quitting smoking

When a person inhales tobacco smoke, nicotine and all related substances pass through the trachea directly into the lungs. Smoke fills the entire lung space and settles, leaving a sediment of resins and impurities. After this process, various actions occur in the body that cause vasospasm - this leads to hypertension (high blood pressure) and oxygen starvation of brain cells. After some time, the body begins to get used to the fact that it lacks oxygen, and all the substances that enter it, after a puff, become an integral part of their existence. If he does not receive the normal and usual dose of nicotine, then the opposite effect is observed, namely: vasodilation and hypotension (low blood pressure), which may be associated with pain in the heart or chest. Also, one important problem is the lack of carbon dioxide, which previously was constantly supplied by smoking. A person who quits smoking may begin to notice a lack of air - this is due to the fact that the blood is now saturated not with carbon dioxide, but with oxygen. There is such a quantity of oxygen that it causes oversaturation and the unaccustomed body is just beginning to adapt, resulting in pain in the heart, chest and difficulty breathing. Pain in the heart area after you quit smoking can indicate more than just heart problems. Most often, these are ailments of the lungs, which expand and cause pressure on the chest, this is the cause of pain. A lack of nicotine causes a number of consequences that affect not only the heart, but also other organs of the internal system of the human body. A person and his organs very quickly get used to the various factors and substances that affect them. Due to this, the organism is able to exist for a long time, since it can adapt to different environments. Once addiction has set in, life without these substances becomes difficult. A lack of nicotine will not have a good effect in this situation; on the contrary, at first the condition will be very serious. At this moment, the main thing is to endure and within a couple of weeks, your lungs will begin to free themselves from tar and nicotine. The process of restoring human systems without the action of harmful substances will begin. In a month, carbon dioxide will be replaced by oxygen. Shortness of breath and smoker's cough (if any) will disappear. The body will begin to adapt to normal conditions, therefore, the desire to smoke will gradually disappear, and with them the pain in the heart or chest. There are too many problems associated with smoking. The heart is the mechanism of the entire body. Without it, not a single living system or organ can exist. To live a long, happy and clean life, quit smoking as soon as possible. You will notice how the world will look without tobacco and tobacco smoke.

Photo of the heart of a smoker and a healthy person

In the following photos you will see what a smoker's heart looks like:

Is it worth quitting abruptly?

Conducted studies prove that the human body is completely cleared of the influence of tobacco or other types of smoke (marijuana and cannabinoids) within 1.5 years from the date of cessation of smoking.

Quitting a bad habit becomes more difficult depending on how long you have smoked. A gradual reduction in the number of cigarettes consumed is one of the options to get rid of the harmful factor, but in this case, nicotine continues to affect the blood vessels for some time. But when trying to abruptly refuse, there is no risk of acute reactions from the cardiovascular system.

Unpleasant or painful sensations in the chest area are characterized as withdrawal symptoms caused by “addiction.” Even long-term chronic smokers note a decrease or complete disappearance of heart pain after quitting smoking.

People who are trying to quit smoking are recommended to use an electronic cigarette or a nicotine-free vape while overcoming addiction as a process and set of movements. The mechanism of the device allows you to simulate the smoking process without harm to health, since only flavored vapor is inhaled.

Patients whose heart hurts from an electronic cigarette need to consult a psychotherapist, since such a phenomenon is a sign of a psychosomatic disorder.

Can there be problems after refusal?

If diseases of the cardiovascular system have already occurred, then quitting smoking can provoke their exacerbation . Let's take a closer look at what this is connected with and what ways there are to overcome difficulties.

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Can your heart hurt if you quit smoking?

Unfortunately, the answer is yes. Cases where a person who quit smoking experienced heart pain are not uncommon. These can be problems with either a slight increase in heart rate or serious illnesses.

Heart disease is the cause of death for a huge number of people, so quitting smoking, accompanied by heart pain, must be done under the supervision of a cardiologist!

Why does it tingle when thrown?

For many years, the body constantly received a dose of toxic substances along with tobacco smoke.

This had a detrimental effect on health, but at the same time it restructured the body to work in toxic conditions.

When you quit a bad habit, the flow of poisons also stops. The developed programs no longer met the standards , and the cardiovascular system began to malfunction.

mainly related to the following factors :

  1. Smoking led to vascular spasms, but now the situation is different. The blood supply changes - the heart has to work harder.
  2. Smoke and tar reduced oxygen levels. Now it is normalized, but the body needs more strength to absorb it.
  3. The vessels and capillaries that were previously attacked by nicotine now relax. The result is a drop in blood pressure, which can lead to heart problems.

What problems could there be with the “motor”?

It can be any type of disease - it all depends on the degree of damage and the length of time the smoker has been smoking.

You shouldn't think that heart problems associated with quitting smoking can be solved by starting to smoke again! This will lead to new shocks for the body and even more negative consequences.

It is necessary to go through this stage if there is pressure in the heart under the supervision of a specialist, and never return to smoking again.

What happens when you quit tobacco

When you quit smoking, the effect immediately appears on the myocardium:

  1. The vessels are cleansed. Toxins contained in tobacco leave the body within a few hours after the last cigarette. The stimulant in the form of nicotine no longer enters the system, and the vessels gradually expand to their original size, and blood pressure drops sharply. The result is that the former smoker feels dizzy and his heart ache or hurts.
  2. The concentration of oxygen in the blood increases. Regular smoking causes a significant amount of carbon monoxide to enter the bloodstream. Blood oxygen levels are low, to the point of chronic hypoxemia. When you give up a bad habit, the flow of oxygen sharply increases, which is why pain in the heart muscle, heart failure and a feeling that there is not enough oxygen occur.
  3. Restoring heart rate. The beginning of life without tobacco is not optimistic: the first time after quitting smoking, the heartbeat sharply increases and becomes more frequent. This is due to the abundant flow of oxygen into the blood and the dilation of blood vessels. After a week, the function of the heart is restored: the heart rate returns to normal, there is no more pressure in the chest, breathing becomes easier, and the dizziness goes away. Blood circulates normally, providing oxygen to internal organs.

What to do if the damage has already been done?

Regardless of the fact that the cause of the disease is smoking, a specific cardiac disease is treated. However, not all heart problems must necessarily be solved with medication; sometimes a quiet period of life is enough .

Does the heart recover after exposure to tobacco?

The good news is that cardiovascular recovery occurs fairly quickly in those who quit smoking. If the situation has not been taken to extremes and there are no other causes of illness, complete remission occurs.

Who should I contact for treatment?

It has already been mentioned that a cardiologist , and if pain, nausea, or dizziness occur, you should contact him immediately.

If the process is accompanied by diseases of other systems, it is necessary to coordinate the treatment program with specialized specialists (pulmonologist, endocrinologist, etc.).

How to restore your heart after smoking and drinking alcohol?

If drug treatment and hospital treatment are not prescribed, the following are perfect for recovery :

  • leisurely walks in the fresh air;
  • holiday at sea in a not too hot season;
  • reduction of physical activity;
  • long sleep;
  • a hobby that does not require nervous or physical effort.

Medical specialists may recommend other activities specific to specific cases.

How long will it take for pain in the heart area to go away?

It is impossible to set exact dates . Much depends on the severity of the damage caused, but, as practice shows, even the most advanced cases (if they could still be cured) left no traces of themselves several years after quitting tobacco .

Can cigarettes cause heart pain and why?

Cardialgia is pain in the heart area, which is caused by impaired blood supply to the myocardium due to damage to the coronary vessels. The pain in the organ that occurs after smoking is associated with the complex effect of active substances from tobacco smoke on these vessels:

  • development of atherosclerotic plaque due to impaired lipid metabolism;
  • viscous blood in the area of ​​the plaque causes the formation of a thrombus (blood clot);
  • increased blood pressure due to increased release of catecholamines, which disrupts the linear flow of blood through the vessels;
  • rupture of an unstable plaque, the free part of which blocks the lumen of the coronary vessel, initiating the development of acute coronary syndrome (preliminary diagnosis of myocardial infarction);
  • An increase in the frequency and strength of heart contractions is accompanied by an increase in the myocardial need for oxygen and nutrients. Due to damage to the lungs and blockage of blood vessels, the required amount of gas is not supplied and myocardial ischemia occurs with the characteristic symptom of chest pain (angina pectoris).

The appearance of pain in the heart when inhaling after smoking is explained by a reflex spasm of blood vessels in response to exposure to cold (compared to smoke) air. Such patients complain of dizziness, weakness and breathing problems - the inability to inhale or exhale, a feeling of temporary paralysis of the respiratory muscles.

A capsule with menthol in a cigarette is intended not only to eliminate the unpleasant odor of tobacco, but also to dilate blood vessels and prevent vasospasm.

Prevention

Of course, it is better to eliminate the possibility of a disease than to treat it. Therefore, prevention of diseases of the cardiovascular system should be one of the first places for anyone who wants to live a long time.

The main preventive methods are:

  1. Quitting tobacco, alcoholic beverages and other bad habits.
  2. Compliance with normal body weight.
  3. Normal physical activity.
  4. Periodic exposure to fresh air.
  5. No nervous tension.

How to help your heart recover

Despite the fact that the body cleanses itself, it needs help for a speedy recovery. It is important to think through all events in advance and try to follow these recommendations:

  • Ensure proper rest during the period of quitting cigarettes;
  • Get enough sleep;
  • Avoid active activities for the first 3-5 days;
  • If you feel mild pain in the chest, go out into the fresh air;
  • Avoid stressful situations;
  • If you experience rapid heartbeat and severe pain, consult a doctor immediately.

The main rule that experts recommend is to never return to smoking. The fact is that even a few cravings can cause a heart attack, so it is advisable to protect yourself from such a fate. You should also remember that it is unacceptable to take any medications without the permission of a specialist, since improper use of medications will lead to the fact that the pressure can rise sharply. If you lack willpower, then it is better to seek help from doctors and, under their guidance, get rid of tobacco addiction.

Timely getting rid of the nicotine habit allows a person to put his life in order and improve the functioning of his body. Experts have proven that just a year after quitting cigarettes, blood pressure will not rise as often as it did before. It is worth remembering that the functioning of other organs also improves, the nervous system and skin condition are restored. The key to a healthy future is an active way of life, without bad habits.

Effect of electronic cigarettes

There are no combustion products in the e-cigarette vapor.

In all other respects, the toxins entering the body are similar to smoking.

In addition, the composition includes substances and impurities that have their own negative effects on the body, including the heart.

Composition of cigarette smoke.


Composition of tobacco smoke

Do you smoke occasionally or are you a heavy smoker with experience? Doesn't matter. In both cases, your body is dependent on cigarettes. What makes you smoke periodically or regularly? First of all, psychological dependence. Smoking is a kind of ritual, a habit that allows you to relax, calm down, take a deep breath... But, alas, not air, but:

  1. Nicotine is enemy No. 1 for the nervous, cardiovascular system, adrenal glands, liver, and lungs. This is the substance that causes addiction to cigarettes. Under its influence, an increased release of adrenal hormones occurs, a person experiences satisfaction, and his mood improves. Also, under the influence of this poison on the nervous system, a person experiences a kind of euphoria, a state of relaxation. The liver actively fights this poison, diligently removing it from the body, which is why, when its level in the blood decreases, you want to pick up a cigarette again. Also, under the influence of nicotine, myocardial contractility and cardiac output increase, blood pressure increases, and blood vessels spasm. With frequent active smoking, overstrain of the heart muscle can lead to pain in the heart area.


    Oxygen starvation

  2. Hydrocyanic acid is the strongest poison! Under its influence as part of tobacco smoke, all cells of the body experience “oxygen starvation.” This is especially dangerous for brain and heart cells. When cardiomyocytes do not receive enough oxygen, hypoxia develops. This is a condition in which heart cells work through force in the myocardium, and pathological processes begin to develop. Even early manifestations of hypoxia can make themselves felt by pain in the heart area. Prolonged “hunger” of the heart muscle can lead to ischemia, and then angina pectoris and heart attack are just around the corner.
  3. Aromatic compounds, phenols. Substances that provoke an increase in cancer among smokers.
  4. Resins and tar. Possessing increased viscosity, these compounds are deposited on the inner surface of blood vessels and pulmonary capillaries, which makes it difficult for the exchange of gases between the lungs and the blood, the blood cannot get rid of decay and metabolic products, and the lungs cannot saturate the blood with oxygen, which is so necessary for the body of a smoker.


    Sick of cigarettes

  5. Aldehydes and ketones. It is these compounds that cause the appearance of nausea and even vomiting when cigarette smoke enters the body, most often of an unprepared person who has not yet become “hooked” on smoking. These compounds are harmful to the heart and blood vessels, have a negative effect on the body, and provoke the development of diseases of the heart and gastrointestinal tract.
  6. Carbon dioxide and carbon dioxide. These are toxic metabolic products. Carbon monoxide “takes over” the oxygen in the blood, binding to hemoglobin and blocking its function. Thus, oxygen transport in the body is blocked, because hemoglobin is its carrier. This again leads to ischemia of the body cells and a lack of oxygen in the blood.

Does it make sense to list further all the components of tobacco smoke, since there are more than 1200 of them... Probably not. But already from the first components of its composition described above, it becomes clear why the heart hurts from smoking. Almost all components cause oxygen starvation of the heart, “force” it to work for wear, provoke vascular spasm, which further leads to oxygen deficiency, contribute to microtraumatization of blood vessels, and increased deposition of cholesterol plaques on their walls.

How else does smoking affect the heart?

In smokers, the level of lipids, cholesterol and betalipoprotein in the blood is increased, which contributes to the formation of atherosclerotic formations (plaques) on the vessels of the heart. Atherosclerosis is a dangerous disease and, in addition to myocardial infarction, sometimes causes sudden death.

Smoking, in addition to the coronary vessels, causes pathologies in other vessels of the body, contributing to the development of various diseases, such as hypertension.

In the course of ongoing research, it was found that the same changes occur in the blood of smokers as in patients who have suffered a myocardial infarction. So in the blood of a person who does not smoke, the number of adhesive red blood cells is no more than 3%, while in a smoker who has had a heart attack this figure reaches 10%.

Consequences

A drop of nicotine kills a horse. A hackneyed phrase containing a fair amount of truth. Smoking 1 cigarette increases blood pressure by 15-20%, followed by a sharp decrease. Changes help to increase the contraction of the heart muscles by 2 times. And now a little arithmetic.

Average statistics for heavy smokers show that they use 20 buds of cigarettes per month. Over the course of a year, the resource of the cardiovascular system is reduced by 250 days. Therefore, the average life expectancy of a non-smoker is 65-68 years, and that of a smoker is 46-48 years. Everyone consciously reserves their own choice.

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