| Smoking as a
Risk Factor in Coronary Heart Disease and Strokes |
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| • Coronary heart
disease and stroke—the primary types of cardiovascular disease caused by
smoking—are the first and third leading causes of death in the United
States. More than 61 million Americans suffer from some form of
cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure, coronary heart
disease, stroke, congestive heart failure, and other conditions. More than
2,600 Americans die every day because of cardiovascular diseases, about 1
death every 33 seconds. • Toxins in the blood from smoking cigarettes contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a progressive hardening of the arteries caused by the deposit of fatty plaques and the scarring and thickening of the artery wall. Inflammation of the artery wall and the development of blood clots can obstruct blood flow and cause heart attacks or strokes. (p. 364-365) • Smoking causes coronary heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States. Coronary heart disease results from atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries. • In 2003, an estimated 1.1 million Americans had a new or recurrent coronary attack. • Cigarette smoking has been associated with sudden cardiac death of all types in both men and women. • Smoking-related coronary heart disease may contribute to congestive heart failure. An estimated 4.6 million Americans have congestive heart failure and 43,000 die from it every year. • Smoking low-tar or low-nicotine cigarettes rather than regular cigarettes appears to have little effect on reducing the risk for coronary heart disease. • Strokes are the third leading cause of death in the United States. Cigarette smoking is a major cause of strokes. • The U.S. incidence of stroke is estimated at 600,000 cases per year, and the one-year fatality rate is about 30%. • The risk of stroke decreases steadily after smoking cessation. Former smokers have the same stroke risk as nonsmokers after 5 to 15 years. • Smoking causes abdominal aortic aneurysm. Related Topics: Tobacco, Smoking and Your Health Source: United States Surgeon General's Office |
| This fact sheet
summarizes research into the increased risk of coronary heart disease and
strokes that can result from smoking. You can learn more about health
issues associated with smoking and tobacco use by reading through
these additional fact
sheets. |
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| This document is
provided solely for educational and informational purposes. Be sure to consult your doctor before making any major medical decision. |
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