Smoking and Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a disease in which fatty substances such as cholesterol, cellular waste, calcium and other substances are deposited along the lining of artery walls in a person’s body. These sticky, yellowish deposits, known as plaque, build up over time, hindering blood flow.

Also known as hardening of the arteries, atherosclerosis often starts early in life and progresses slowly as a person ages. Atherosclerosis typically affects medium and large arteries in the body. Many scientists believe that damage to the endothelium, innermost layer of the artery, is where atherosclerosis begins.

Damage to the endothelium allows plaque to build up along the lining of arterial walls, and as it does, blood flow is contricted and the supply of oxygen to the body is decreased. Plaque can rupture and cause blood clots. These blood clots can break away and enter the blood stream, lodging in another part of the body, sometimes completely blocking blood flow. Fatty embolisms that block blood flow to the heart cause a heart attack. If they block blood flow to the brain, they cause a stroke. If blood flow to the arms and legs is reduced, it can cause a person to have difficulty walking and eventually lead to gangrene.

Three proven causes of atherosclerosis are:

Elevated Cholesterol and Triglyceride Levels


While our bodies need LDL cholesterol, too much of it can raise cholesterol levels dangerously and put a person at risk for atherosclerosis / heart attack. Foods that come from animals, i.e. chicken, eggs, dairy products, beef and pork contain cholesterol. Foods from plants do not contain cholesterol.

High Blood Pressure



When high blood pressure goes untreated for a long time and the heart is forced to pump harder to get the blood to flow, the result is often an enlarged and weakened heart muscle. And high blood pressure hurts the arteries and arterioles over time as well. They become scarred and hardened, putting a person at risk for atherosclerosis.

Tobacco Smoke

Cigarette smoke aggravates both of the above risk factors for atherosclerosis.

    The toxins in tobacco smoke lower a person’s high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL or “good” cholesterol) while raising levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
    Nicotine and Carbon Monoxide
    High Blood Pressure


If you are a smoker and you’re thinking about quitting, I have good news for you, and it is this:

It is never too late to quit smoking.

Regardless of your age or how many years you’ve smoked, research has shown that your body will begin the healing process within 20 minutes of your last cigarette.



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