Smoking is a major cause of CVD and causes one of every three deaths from CVD.
9 Smoking can:
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- Raise triglycerides (a type of fat in your blood)
- Lower "good" cholesterol (HDL)
- Make blood sticky and more likely to clot, which can block blood flow to the heart and brain
- Damage cells that line the blood vessels
- Increase the buildup of plaque (fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances) in blood vessels
- Cause thickening and narrowing of blood vessels
How Is Breathing Secondhand Smoke Related to Heart Disease and Stroke?
Breathing secondhand smoke also harms your health. Secondhand smoke is the smoke from burning tobacco products.
9,11,12 Secondhand smoke also is smoke breathed out by a smoker.
11,12
Breathing secondhand smoke can cause coronary heart disease, including heart attack and stroke.
9,11,13 Know the facts:
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- Secondhand smoke causes nearly 34,000 early deaths from coronary heart disease each year in the United States among nonsmokers.
- Nonsmokers who breathe secondhand smoke at home or at work increase
their risk of developing heart disease by 25–30%. Secondhand smoke
increases the risk for stroke by 20−30%.
- Each year, secondhand smoke exposure causes more than 8,000 deaths from stroke.
- Breathing secondhand smoke interferes with the normal functioning of
the heart, blood, and vascular systems in ways that increase your risk
of having a heart attack.
- Even briefly breathing secondhand smoke can damage the lining of
blood vessels and cause your blood to become stickier. These changes can
cause a deadly heart attack.
How Can Heart Disease and Stroke Be Prevented?
Heart disease and stroke are major causes of death and disability in
the United States. Many people are at high risk for these diseases and
don't know it. The good news is that many risk factors for heart disease
and stroke can be prevented or controlled.
The federal government’s
Million Hearts®
initiative aims to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes by 2017.
It’s important to know your risk for heart disease and stroke and to
take action to reduce that risk. A good place to start is with the ABCS
of heart health:
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- Aspirin: Aspirin may help reduce your risk for
heart disease and stroke. But do not take aspirin if you think you are
having a stroke. It can make some types of stroke worse. Before taking
aspirin, talk to your doctor about whether aspirin is right for you.
- Blood pressure: Control your blood pressure.
- Cholesterol: Manage your cholesterol.
- Smoking: Quit smoking, or don’t start.
In addition to your ABCS, several lifestyle choices can help protect your heart and brain health. These include the following:
13,14
- Avoid breathing secondhand smoke.
- Eat low-fat, low-salt foods most of the time and fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Exercise regularly.
- Limit alcohol use.
- Get other health conditions (such as diabetes) under control.
https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/diseases/heart-disease-stroke.html
