[The effects of smoking on cardiovascular system]

Smoking is a very popular habit of inhaling tobacco smoke. Toxic components of the tobacco smoke are being distributed throughout the whole organism by means of circulation. Nicotine, carbon monoxide, free radicals and cytokines fundamentally influence circulation. These components cause creation of atherosclerotic plaque and its destabilization. These processes make smoking the most important single risk factor in coronary artery disease, sudden cardiac death, ischemic stroke, aortic aneurysm formation, peripheral vascular disease and Buerger disease. It must be also said this factor might be possibly removed. Epidemiologic examinations confirm that The INTERHEART study showed strongly growing dependence between the number of cigarettes smoked during the day and night and the risk of coronary heart attack. In order to lower the risk we should mobilize all preventive actions which would protect us from smoking and addiction. But for those who are already chain smokers we should apply behavior therapy or eventually use drugs which are scientifically proved to be effective.