Cigarette smoking and cardiovascular risk

durantealessandro
4 hours ago
2 min read

Cigarette Smoking and Cardiovascular Risk

Cigarette smoking is one of the most important and dangerous risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. There is no “safe” amount: even a few cigarettes a day significantly increase the likelihood of developing heart attack, stroke, and arterial diseases.

Why smoking is harmful for your heart and blood vessels

Cigarette smoke contains thousands of toxic substances. The main agents responsible for cardiovascular damage are:

Nicotine – increases heart rate and blood pressure, putting additional strain on the heart.
Carbon monoxide (CO) – reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood, forcing the heart to work harder.
Oxidizing substances and particulate matter – damage the inner lining of the arteries, promoting atherosclerosis.

These mechanisms lead over time to progressive vascular damage.

Which cardiovascular diseases are linked to smoking?

1. Myocardial infarction (heart attack)

Smoking accelerates plaque formation in the coronary arteries and increases the tendency to form blood clots. Smokers have a 2–4 times higher risk of heart attack compared to non-smokers.

2. Stroke

Harmful substances in cigarette smoke damage the cerebral vessels, increasing the risk of both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. The risk is almost doubled in regular smokers.

3. Peripheral artery disease (PAD)

Smoking narrows and inflames the arteries in the legs, causing pain while walking (claudication). It is one of the strongest risk factors for this condition.

4. Aortic aneurysm

Smoking weakens the aortic wall and promotes the development of aneurysms, which can rupture suddenly with life-threatening consequences.

Does the risk also increase with “non-traditional” smoking?

Yes. Although some products may seem “less harmful,” they are not harmless.

E-cigarettes: reduce some toxic substances but still deliver nicotine, which has direct cardiovascular effects.
Heated tobacco products: produce less smoke but still release irritants and oxidizing compounds.
Secondhand smoke: significantly increases cardiovascular risk even for non-smokers.

Quitting smoking: when do the benefits appear?

Good news: your heart begins to improve immediately.

After 24 hours: carbon monoxide levels in the blood decrease.
After 2–12 weeks: circulation and lung function improve.
After 1 year: heart attack risk is cut in half.
After 5 years: stroke risk approaches that of non-smokers.
After 10–15 years: overall cardiovascular risk becomes similar to that of someone who has never smoked.