What's New Heart News Cigarette Smoke Speeds Up Hardening of Arteries HeartInfo Commentary Studies show smoking affects the progression of atherosclerosis in the blood vessels for passive and active smokers. Decreasing or eliminating smoking can help reduce the incidence of heart disease.
Atherosclerosis can cause a heart attack or stroke.
The scientists measured changes over 3 years through ultrasound of the carotid artery, which carries blood to the head, in 10,914 people ages 45 to 64. It was 20 percent faster in nonsmokers who had close contact with smokers for more than one hour per week than those in smokefree environments. Researchers adjusted their data to account for risk factors for heart disease, demographic and lifestyle factors. The effects of smoking on atherosclerosis was greatest on diabetics and people with high blood pressure, they note. Atherosclerosis progressed more quickly in previous smokers, defined as people who had smoked more than 100 cigarettes ever, than among the participants who had never smoked.