How Cigarettes Hurt Your Heart

Cigarettes and other tobacco products are the leading cause of cardiovascular diseases, including heart attacks and strokes.1 The chemicals in cigarettes damage the cells and blood vessels in the arterial wall and create clots that block blood flow to the heart.

How cigarette smoke damages your heart

The thousands of chemicals in cigarette smoke damage the heart and blood vessels and can lead to severe cardiac problems. Some of the ways that cigarette smoke affects your heart include:

1. Reduced oxygen delivery:

- Nicotine causes blood vessels to narrow and restricts blood flow to the heart.

- Carbon monoxide in cigarettes binds to hemoglobin in red blood cells instead of oxygen, reducing the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.

2. Increased blood pressure and heart rate:

- Nicotine also causes blood pressure and heart rate to rise, which puts extra stress on the heart.

3. Increased cholesterol levels:

- Cigarette smoke raises the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol) and lowers the level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol), increasing the risk of atherosclerosis.

4. Arterial damage:

- The chemicals in cigarettes damage the cells and blood vessels in the arterial walls, making them more likely to become clogged and form clots.

5. Inflammation:

- Cigarette smoke can trigger inflammation which is linked to the hardening and narrowing of arteries.

6. Increased risk of blood clots:

- Cigarette smoke increases platelet stickiness, making blood more likely to clot, blocking arteries or triggering a stroke or heart attack.

7. Damaged DNA:

- The chemicals in cigarette smoke can damage the genetic material in cells, increasing the risk of cancer and other genetic diseases.

8. Increased oxidative stress:

- Cigarette smoke produces reactive oxygen species that damage cells and promote the development of cardiovascular diseases.

Here are the effects of cigarette smoking on the heart over time

Within minutes of smoking a cigarette:

- Blood pressure rises.

- Heart rate increases.

- Skin temperature drops.

- Blood oxygen levels drop.

- Carbon monoxide levels in blood rise.

Over the long term:

- Heart disease risk increases.

- Plaque starts to accumulate inside the arteries as fat, cholesterol, plaque and other substances build up.

- Damage to the heart muscle.

- Heart failure can occur.

- Increased risk of death.

Additional effects on the cardiovascular system

In addition to the damage they cause to the heart itself, cigarettes also contribute to the development of peripheral artery disease, which is the hardening and narrowing of arteries in the legs or arms, and abdominal aortic aneurysms, which are bulges in the aorta (the main artery of the body).