Tuesday, 1 November 2011

Smoking Damage the Heart or not?

smoking can damage the heart. The heart is the organ that supplies blood and oxygen to all parts of the body. It is about the size of a clenched fist, weighs about 10.5 ounces and is shaped like a cone. The heart is the most important muscle in the body. Circulation of blood also picks up waste products like poisons from cigarette smoke and carries them to different parts of the body. So cigarette smoking can cause serious damage to the heart.
Atherosclerosis:
Atherosclerosis is a disease where there is a build-up of plaque inside your arteries. Plaque is composed of fatty deposits, cholesterol, calcium and other substances that over time will cause the arteries to become narrower and therefore lessen the flow of blood to the brain, heart and the rest of the body.
Heart attack
People who have atherosclerosis can suffer a heart attack as a blockage in the main artery may cause restricted blood flow to the heart. This causes pain and the person will have a heart attack. The main reason is because the blood and the oxygen it carries cannot pass through the main artery or the vessels supplying blood to the heart. This causes damage to the heart muscle and the heart or that area that is depleted of much needed blood flow may subsequently dies as a result.

Angina
Angina is chest pain or discomfort that occurs when a person has insufficient blood and oxygen supplying the heart or an area of the heart muscle. It can be caused by physical exertion but it can also be due to smoking. Angina usually does not cause death whereas a heart attack may result in death.




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