Tuesday, July 1, 2008

How does smoking increase the risk of coronary heart disease (by blocking arteries)

How does smoking increase the risk of coronary heart disease (by blocking arteries)?

Heart Diseases - 3 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Smoking tobacco in any form, even cigars, will have the effect of increasing LDL cholesterol and decreasing HDL cholesterol. It also slightly increases triglycerides. This is a triple whammy because it negatively affects all your cholesterol levels. Cholesterol levels have a direct correlation with coronary artery disease also known as atherosclerosis. That's how increases the risk of Heart diseases.
2 :
OF COURSE IT CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF MANY HARMFUL THINGS I DONT KNOW WHY PEOPLE EVEN START SMOKING IN THE FIRST PLACE!!! STOP IT NOW!!!
3 :
Smoking is among TOP risk factors for ATHEROSCLEROSIS (it's just medical term for disease of blocking arteries). If this happens in coronary artery its heart that is affected If this happens in brain, it may cause stroke In lower limbs, it will cause gangrene Everywhere same process goes. How does smoking contributes that is here Smoking increases levels of nicotine and certain other organic products that cause destructive changes to the inner lining (coating) of arteries. This lining/coating is protective in regards that it prevents sticking of White blood cells(monocytes), platlets and cholesterol on the walls of arteries. Products of smoking damage this lining (medical term-- endothelial dysfunction) resulting in increased stickiness of cholesterol particles on walls of arteries, which is a very important step in initiation of blockage. these cholesterol later are taken up by cells in the arteries which further attract and make more cells to keep on sticking to wall and ultimately we get a big atheroma (occlusive plaque) in coronary artery. heart doesnot get its share of blood (and therefore oxygen) from coronary artery So it causes pain on exertion. This is known as ANGINA. if this plaque cracks it will immediately cause sticking of numerous platelets and block artery completely resulting in so called heart attack(myocardial infarction) which is damage to heart due to non availability of blood(and therefore oxygen) from coronary arteries By the way, these are diseases smokers are at increased risk of 1.Cardiovascular-- Hyprtension, Heart attack, failure 2.Nervous system--- Stroke, dementia 3.Lungs-- COPD bronchitis, emphysema, lung cancer 4.Limbs-- Gangrene, intermittent claudication(pain on exertion) 5.Mouth-- oral cancer 6.Digestve system-- Oesophageal and stomach cancer, Peptic Ulcer disease kindly rate this answer

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