Every year, 62,000 deaths from ischaemic heart disease occur in passive smokers in USA.
Smoking and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are linked to the development and expansion of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). AAA is an abnormal dilatation of the abdominal aorta. More than 90 % of individuals with an AAA have histories of smoking. The main complication of AAA is life-threatening rupture, which leads to death within few minutes. Cigarette smoke is also strongly associated with peripheral vascular disease (PVD) because, history of smoking is present in over 63 % of individuals with PVD(1). It increases the risk of PVD ten-fold in smokers than non-smokers. PVD occurs due to inflammation, atherosclerosis, thrombosis, or embolism, causing narrowing of the large arteries, mainly in the limbs. Therefore, PVD causes ischaemia of the extremities. It results in claudication (weakness, pain, numbness, or muscle cramps, when walking), pain while resting, slowly healing or non-healing ulcers, and tissue death (gangrene) of the limbs.
Cigarette smoke contains carbon monoxide, which is a toxic gas and combines with haemoglobin to form carboxyhaemoglobin in the circulation. Blood levels of carboxyhaemoglobin are three to ten-fold higher in smokers than non-smokers. Large amounts of it can block the transport of oxygen in your body. Therefore, long-term (chronic) smoking causes low levels of oxygen in blood (hypoxia). Chronic hypoxia stimulates the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells (polycythaemia), increasing haemoglobin concentration. Hypoxia is compensated by this process. However, it increases the thickness of blood hence the risk of blood clot formation (thrombosis). Consequently, long-term inhalation of carbon monoxide is associated with increased risk of ischaemic heart disease and stroke in direct and passive smokers.
Carboxyhaemoglobin amounts were greater than or equal to five per cent are linked with frequent heart rhythm abnormalities (arrhythmias) in patients with acute myocardial infarction at early phase(2). Therefore, it can affect the recovery from the condition significantly. Smoking causes episodes of angina in people with ischaemic heart disease, and may cause thrombosis and coronary artery spasm in some individuals.
Smaller amounts of carboxyhaemoglobin can cause dizziness, unconsciousness, and tiredness too.
Circulating carbon monoxide also damages the macula of the retina (macular degeneration) hence your vision. Smokers have four to six-fold risk of developing macular degeneration than non-smokers.
If you are a pregnant (direct or passive) smoker, you are at higher risk of giving birth to babies of a low birth weight. Carbon monoxide can constrict the blood vessels of the placenta, reducing blood flow to the foetus. In addition to it, foetal haemoglobin combines with carbon monoxide without much difficulty than in a mother. Therefore, the foetus will suffer from hypoxia, possibly retarding its growth and development.
References:
(1) Novo S. Classification, epidemiology, risk factors, and natural history of peripheral arterial
disease. Diabetes Obes Metab 2002;4(Suppl 2):S1–6.
(2) Elsasser S, Mall T, Grossenbacher M, Zuber M, Perruchoud AP, Ritz R. Influence of carbon
monoxide (CO) on the early course of acute myocardial infarction. Intensive Care Med 1995;
21:716–22.
Related Links:
How Does Cigarette Smoke Affect Your Lungs?
Does Cigarette Smoking Harm Your Fertility?
Passive Smoking: A Hidden Risk for Your Child
Cigarette Smoking and Cancers
A Few Adverse Effects of Smoking
Why Is Angina Important?
Lifestyle Changes to Reduce Your Risk of Heart Disease
How to Prevent a Stroke?
How Do You Prevent Another Heart Attack?
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