Cigarette smoking harms nearly every organ of the body, causes numerous ailments and impacts health in general. Worldwide, smoking causes 7 million deaths each year and is one of the leading preventable cause of death.
Research and studies have shown that smoking increases the risk:
- for coronary heart disease and stroke by 2 to 4 times
- of men developing lung cancer by 25 times
- of women developing lung cancer by 25.7 times
- of diminished overall health, increased absenteeism from work, and increased health care utilization and cost
Cardiologists at Aster Clinic, Dubai have reiterated enough for the healing effects of quitting smoking on the body. However, in order to quit smoking, one must understand the harmful effect of smoking on the body, particularly on the heart and blood vessels.
Nicotine, a harmful substance present in cigarettes, increases the adrenaline production which causes the heart to beat faster, blood pressure to rise and makes your heart pump harder in order to keep your other organs well-supplied with blood and oxygen.
In addition to nicotine, cigarette smoke also contains other harmful elements like carbon monoxide, tar etc.
Tar can damage your arteries by building plaque (a combination of fat, cholesterol, cellular waste, and calcium, etc.) on the inner lining of blood vessels. This plaque begins to narrow the artery and puts you at the risk of a stroke, heart attack, and other diseases. Carbon monoxide reduces oxygen levels in your blood making your heart to pump more blood into the circulation system to supply enough oxygen to organs of the body.
Smoking also decreases the ability of your body to perform any kind of physical activity and makes one tired easily.
If one has increase cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes, smoking will double the risk of a heart attack.
Quitting smoking is the single best thing you can do for your heart health. If you’re a smoker, stopping smoking is the single most important step you can take to protect the health of your heart. Quitting smoking lowers your risk of smoking-related diseases and can add years to your life. If one having any symptoms of chest pain, breathlessness and palpitation, its best to consult the best heart Doctor for early prevention of heart problem.
Specialist Cardiologist
Aster Clinic, Bur Dubai (AJMC)
