Packages of cigarettes carry a warning label stating that smoking cigarettes is hazardous to your health. Many people who smoke become aware of this fact when they personally experience health problems that include angina.
According to the Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Angina Pectoris is chest pain or discomfort that occurs when the heart muscle does not receive enough oxygen. Some people experience pressure or squeezing pain in the chest, others feel as though they are experiencing indigestion, and some individuals experience pain in the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw or back.
Symptoms
The pains associated with angina are symptoms of a coronary artery disease called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the build up of fatty plaque inside the arteries, which narrows them and reduces the flow of blood that carries oxygen to the heart. This can block the arteries and cause a .
Cigarette Smoking
Cigarette smoking is a major cause of atherosclerosis and angina. It decreases the oxygen in the heart, increases blood pressure and the heart rate, decreases HDL good cholesterol and increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Smoking Risks
According to the Cleveland Clinic, the more you smoke and the longer you smoke, the more you increase your risk for developing angina and atherosclerosis. People who smoke a pack of cigarettes a day have twice the risk of developing heart disease than non-smokers.
Benefits of Quitting
According to the American Heart Association, those people who quit smoking can increase their life between 1and 9 years. They reduce their chances for heart attacks and death by 50 percent and can free themselves from the pains of angina.
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