Why cigarettes can be the cause of heart disease?

You must be familiar with the call to quit smoking, right? This call is encouraged to keep you healthy. The reason is, the smoking habit is the cause of various health problems, one of which is heart disease (cardiovascular). So, how can smoking be the cause of heart disease?

Cigarettes as a cause of heart disease

Heart disease is a chronic disease that can cause death if handled properly.

This disease attacks the heart and surrounding blood vessels, causing the heart to not function optimally and blood circulation to the heart or from the heart to the rest of the body does not run smoothly.

The disruption of the function of the heart and blood vessels will later cause symptoms of heart disease, including chest pain, shortness of breath, and irregular heartbeats.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that smoking is the main cause of heart disease, and even causes death from the disease.

The risk of this chronic disease increases with the number of cigarettes smoked per day and as the smoking habit continues over the years.

Not only for active smokers, smoking is also a cause of cardiovascular disease, such as coronary heart disease, heart attacks and strokes in secondhand smoke. They do not directly smoke cigarettes, but also inhale the residue of the combustion when around active smokers.

How do cigarettes cause heart disease?

Cigarettes contain various substances that are harmful to the body, such as nicotine, carbon monoxide, and tar. When you inhale cigarette smoke, these substances will enter the body and flow in the blood.

Ultimately, these chemicals can irritate the cells that line blood vessels, cause inflammation, and narrow the pathways for blood flow. In addition, smoking can also increase blood pressure and reduce good cholesterol levels.

This condition will later cause various health problems in the heart, including:

1. Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is the most common type of heart disease. This condition indicates narrowing of the arteries due to plaque. Plaque is indeed formed from fat, cholesterol, and other substances that accumulate and harden.

In addition to high cholesterol, the habit of smoking cigarettes is also a cause for a person to be more prone to heart disease. When smoking, the plaque will thicken and make it difficult for the blood to flow smoothly. Not only that, the chemicals in cigarettes also make arteries that are initially flexible and stiffer. Over time, blood vessels can become inflamed and damaged.

2. Coronary heart disease

Coronary heart disease occurs when blood flow to the heart is obstructed due to blockages in the arteries.

Cigarettes are one of the causes of this heart disease, even causing sudden death. This is because the chemicals in cigarettes trigger the thickening and clotting of blood in the arteries and make it difficult for the blood to distribute oxygen.

3. Stroke

Stroke is one of the many complications of heart disease due to disruption of blood flow. This condition indicates disruption or cessation of blood supply to the brain. This can cause permanent damage and even death.

The risk of stroke and death is known to be higher in a smoker, than in former smokers or people who have never smoked.

Factors that can increase the risk of heart disease in smokers

Smoking is never labeled "safe" and the more cigarettes you smoke, the greater your risk of developing heart disease. However, heart disease is not only caused by smoking. There are various factors that can increase your risk of heart disease, including:

Age

As you get older, plaque will build up more and your heart and heart will also thicken.

Sex

After going through menopause, the risk of heart disease in women is greater. This is caused by hormonal changes.

Family history

A person who has a family member with heart disease has the possibility of having a similar disease.

Stress

Apart from smoking, stress and loneliness can be a cause of heart disease because they reduce their health in various ways, from causing insomnia to sleep

Poor eating options

Consumption of foods high in cholesterol, fat, and carbohydrates is not heart healthy, thus increasing the risk of heart disease.

Certain health problems

People with hypertension, diabetes, and uncontrolled cholesterol levels are at increased risk of developing heart disease.

Obesity

Improper food choices accompanied by infrequent body activity can lead to obesity, which is closely related to heart disease and other chronic diseases.

Poor personal hygiene

Rarely, washing your hands or brushes can make your body easily infected. Infection that reaches the heart muscle can increase the risk of heart disease.

Prevent heart disease by quitting smoking

The preventive measure for heart disease and its treatment so that it does not get worse is to stop smoking. Because smoking is an avoidable cause of heart disease, you can prevent this so that your heart is always healthy.

The Food and Drug Administration mentions the benefits of quitting smoking for the heart, including:

Within 20 minutes of quitting smoking, your fast heart rate will slow down and return to normal.
Within 12 hours of quitting smoking, the level of carbon monoxide in the blood will decrease and return to normal.
Within the 4 years you stop smoking, your risk of stroke will decrease as much as a nonsmoker.

If you are a smoker, quitting smoking is a wise step to prevent heart disease. This may not be easy for you to do, so it takes a strong intention and the support of those closest to you. Sometimes, you also need the help of a doctor or related health professional to quit this habit.