Heart and Smoking

Hemoglobin, a substance in red blood cells, carries oxygen to cells and tissues in our bodies. Hemoglobin latches on to carbon monoxide nearly 200 times more readily than it does to oxygen. The carbon monoxide in cigarettes impairs the oxygen-carrying capacity of the hemoglobin. This means that there is less oxygen being carried around the body. This causes the heart to work harder, because it has to pump smaller amounts of oxygen throughout the body. Carbon monoxide actually deprives the cells and tissues (including the heart muscle) of oxygen.

Nicotine stimulates adrenal glands. This causes the body to secrete adrenaline and non adrenaline. In excess, these substances can cause a persons blood pressure and heart rate to increase which means the heart must work harder. The heart muscle, as a result, needs more oxygen which it is not getting because of the carbon monoxide in cigarettes. People who suffer from angina may have chest pains because of the excess stress put on the heart. Also, platelets in the blood can become sticky and clump onto the surface of plaques which are already present in the coronary arteries. This may lead to heart attacks. Furthermore, nicotine can cause heart arrhythmias. This is a serious disturbance that occurs because nicotine causes the heart to become more excitable and thus causes extra heart beats to occur.

Trackback URI | Comments RSS