The Diseases of Smoking.

Smoking damages the Cardiovascular System and increases the risk of:

Atherosclerosis:

• When damage occurs to the artery wall, white blood cells move in.
• Over time more white blood cells/lipids/connective tissue build up to form a fibrous plaque forming an Atheroma.
• Atherosclerosis is the hardening of arteries due to the atheromas forming.
• Nicotine increases blood pressure causing more damage meaning more atheromas.

'C' 'H' 'D':

• Caused when lots of atheromas form in the coronary arteries.
• Reduces flow of oxygen causing angina or a heart attack.
• Smoking increases Carbon Monoxide levels that bind to Haemoglobin reducing oxygen delivered to tissues even more.
• Nicotine makes platelets sticky, increasing the chance of blood clots forming.
• More atheromas means more risk of blood clots forming.

Stroke: 

• If a blood clot forms in…