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.
Smoking cessation is beneficial, even after cardiovascular disease has developed.
Smokers who stop smoking after they survive their first heart attack greatly reduce their risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. Female smokers who use contraceptive pills are up to 22 times more likely to suffer a stroke than female non- smokers who do not use contraceptive pills. Very few are lifelong non-smokers. Thromboangiitis Obliterans or Buerger's Disease is a rare form of PVD, which is virtually always due to heavy smoking. Few sufferers are able to stop smoking and many of them have multiple operations, leading to the amputation of both legs.