Even though smoking’s harmful impact on lung health is widely acknowledged – its equally destructive effect on heart health often floats under the radar. Dr Hari Saini states that with every puff, smoking ignites a cascade of changes in your body, placing not only your lungs but also your heart in peril.
The Heart Under Smoke: Unraveling The Impact
The act of smoking acts as a catalyst for numerous changes in the cardiovascular system – each puff drawing a grim picture of heart health.
Nicotine: A Heart’s Foe
Nicotine, the addictive substance in cigarettes, is a major culprit behind heart disease. By causing blood vessels to tighten, it can make your heart work harder. Additionally, it can escalate heart rate and blood pressure, intensifying the risk of Dr Hari Saini heart attacks.
Carbon Monoxide: A Silent Killer
Carbon monoxide, another deadly byproduct of smoking, robs your heart of the oxygen it needs to function correctly. By binding with hemoglobin, it minimizes the amount of oxygen carried to the heart, forcing it to work harder to meet the body’s oxygen demands.
Damaged Blood Vessels
Smoking plays a detrimental role in damaging the lining of the blood vessels, facilitating fat build-up. Over time, this hardens the arteries, a condition known as atherosclerosis, which can lead to peripheral arterial disease, heart attacks, and strokes.
Passive Smoking: A Silent Threat
Non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke aren’t spared either. Passive smoking can substantially increase a non-smoker’s risk of developing heart diseases, almost equivalent to that of a smoker. This makes it all the more crucial to ensure smoke-free environments at home and in public places.
The Healing Power: Quitting Smoking
The sobering truth is that smoking is an absolute disaster for heart health. Yet, the silver lining lies in the remarkable recovery process your bodies can embark upon once you extinguish this habit. Quitting smoking can promptly lower the risk of heart Dr Hari Saini disease and improve overall cardiovascular health—no matter how long or how much you’ve smoked.
