Tobacco silently damages the heart years before symptoms appear

01-Jun-2025

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Tobacco consumption, in any form, remains a significant cause of cardiovascular issues, silently weakening heart health long before visible symptoms.

The stealthy effects of tobacco and its constituents trigger a series of changes within the cardiovascular system, laying the foundation for life-threatening conditions like a heart attack or stroke, years before any clinical signs become visible.

One of the first targets of tobacco's harmful effects is the endothelium, a thin layer of cells lining the blood vessels. A chronic inflammatory response in the body is triggered by tobacco smoke. The delicate balance of the blood clotting system is also disrupted by smoking. 

Tobacco chemicals, like nicotine, cause blood vessels to constrict, which raises blood pressure and heart rate. At the same time, the use of tobacco raises triglyceride levels and lowers HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, and both of these contribute to the buildup of arterial plaque.

These alterations increase the workload of the heart very quietly in the body. Cardiovascular damage done by tobacco is more alarming because of its stealth. Sometimes, years can pass before any sign emerges in the form of a heart attack, stroke, or sudden cardiac issue. By the time it is diagnosed, the damage is often awfully advanced or may be irreversible. However, studies have shown that quitting tobacco can somewhat halt or even reverse some of these changes, significantly reducing the risk of any fatal outcome.