Rokeby Rd., Subiaco, 6008.
Cardiovascular diseases are diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
Cardiovascular disease caused by smoking is the largest cause of premature death in industrialised societies, killing even more people than lung cancer. Smoking causes atherosclerosis, in which the lining of the arteries becomes narrowed and rough, making it difficult for the blood to flow freely and easily. When this happens, total or partial blockages occur and many life threatening diseases and conditions result. A smoker's risk of coronary heart disease increases with the number of cigarettes smoked each day, the total number of years the smoker has smoked and the degree to which smoke is inhaled. Female smokers who use contraceptive pills are 39 times more likely to suffer a coronary heart attack than female non-smokers.