Today we know that smoking harms our body and diminishes our health. The main disease associated with smoking is cancer, but there are many other diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis or asthma.

This is because the toxic substances contained in cigarettes deteriorate the arteries and increase the chances of blood clots forming.

In addition, the work of the heart is made more difficult because the blood pressure increases due to nicotine. In the same way, if there are people around us who are smokers, it also harms us. Being a passive smoker and breathing tobacco smoke is just as bad as smoking, since a large amount of harmful chemical substances for our body such as ammonia, arsenic or nickel are found in the smoke.

Which is smoking?

El Smoking it is closely related to cardiovascular diseases. This is because the toxic substance that is consumed, in this case tobacco, is very harmful to health. The number of compounds contained in tobacco can reach 4.000, and most of them are potentially toxic between different organs and cardiovascular systems. It only does not harm our respiratory function, it also damages our skin, oral health, among many other elements.

Smoking is considered a chronic addictive disorder to nicotine, which is responsible for producing all these processes at the brain level. The person who consumes it, includes the consumption of that substance in their day to day until they become a dependent person, which is why later, smokers face great difficulty when they want to quit.

What diseases can tobacco cause?

ischemic heart disease

It is estimated that smoking causes 29% of mortality from coronary disease. Smokers are 70% more likely to have fatal ischemic heart disease, and 200% more likely to have non-fatal ischemic heart disease. In practical terms, this means that smokers have a heart attack approximately eight years earlier than non-smokers, and are much more likely to have a recurrence if they don't stop smoking. Likewise, it has been shown that tobacco accelerates the progression of coronary arteriosclerosis.

cerebrovascular disease

The risk of cerebrovascular accident or stroke in smokers is 50% higher than in non-smokers and is associated with the number of cigarettes consumed per day. In addition, in middle-aged smokers with high blood pressure the risk of stroke is multiplied by 12. However, this risk is reduced by quitting smoking to equal that of non-smokers within 10-15 years.

Arteriosclerosis

Nicotine and carbon monoxide are the most harmful components of tobacco smoke for the circulatory system, since they accumulate in the blood and induce the formation of atheromatous plaques and with it the progressive hardening of the arteries, causing arteriosclerosis.

Our advice

From Neosalus we always recommend maintaining a healthy life, since health does not warn and at any moment we can have a scare with heart attacks and much more. Reduce alcohol consumption to a large extent, practice sports every day and, above all, quit smoking. As we have explained before, smoking carries a large number of risks and dangers for our respiratory and cardiovascular systems.

Embrace the good life and eliminate bad habits. For more information visit our website for AED training, life advice and cardiovascular health. With Neosalus, leaders in cardiovascular health protection.