Health Tip: Smoking Affects Your Heart

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Smoking can lead to cell and tissue damage throughout your body, and experts say your heart isn’t spared.

The U.S. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute says smoking can:

• Decrease the blood’s ability to carry oxygen.
• Force the heart to work harder by raising blood pressure and heart rate.
• Raise triglycerides (fat) and bad cholesterol, while lowering good cholesterol.
• Affect the heart’s normal rhythm.
• Narrow blood vessel walls.
• Increase inflammation, which can lead to increased plaque buildup in blood vessels.

Source: HealthDay

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