The UK has one of the highest heart disease death rates in the world. Every year, smoking causes over 30,000 deaths from cardiovascular disease in Britain – that’s one in every four smoking-related deaths.

Heart Disease Information: How Does Smoking Cause Heart Disease?

Coronary heart disease occurs when the blood flow to the heart through the coronary arteries is restricted, usually by a fatty build-up or a blood clot in the arteries. This heart disease causes chest pain known as angina and sometimes a heart attack.

Smoking causes high blood pressure and the carbon monoxide in cigarettes inhibits the blood’s ability to transport oxygen to the heart efficiently. Smoking also increases bad high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, as well as increased levels of platelets and fibrinogen, both of which encourage blood clots.

These are all huge risk factors for heart disease and strokes, and also make you up to five times more likely to have a heart attack – even if you’re only a light smoker.

Smoking Causes Heart Disease: Ways Smoking Increases Your Heart Disease Risk

Smoking leads to heart disease, but smokers are also at increased risk of dying of a ruptured aorta aneurysm, (a dangerous swelling in the artery), and are 16 times more likely to develop peripheral vascular disease (blocked blood vessels in the legs or feet, possibly leading to gangrene).

Women who are on the oral contraceptive pill and also smoke have a 20 times higher risk of a heart attack.

Five Easy Steps to Quit Smoking

Smoking and Heart Disease

Smoking and Pregnancy

Smoking and Cancer

How Your Smoking Affects Your Children

Secondhand Smoke

The Benefits of Quitting

Smoking: The Statistics

Smoking: An Addiction As Strong As Heroin!