It accounts for about 430,700 of the more than 2 million annual deaths. Cigarette smokers have a greater risk of developing chronic disorders such as atherosclerosis , several types of cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Many studies detail the evidence that cigarette smoking is a major cause of coronary heart disease, which leads to heart attack. Cigarette and tobacco smoke, high blood cholesterol , high blood pressure, physical inactivity, obesity and diabetes are the six major independent risk factors for coronary heart disease that you can modify, treat or control. Cigarette smoking increases the risk of coronary heart disease by itself and by acting with other risk factors to greatly increase risk.
Cigarette smoking is the most important risk factor for both young men and women.
It produces a greater relative risk in persons under 50 years of age than in those over 50 years old. Women who smoke and use oral contraceptives greatly increase their risk of coronary heart disease and stroke compared with nonsmoking women who use oral contraceptives. Cigarette smoking combined with a family history of heart disease also seems to greatly increase the risk. Studies have shown cigarette smoking is an important risk factor for stroke. Inhaling cigarette smoke produces several damaging effects to the cardiovascular system.