Atherosclerosis

Definition:
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.

Tobacco smoke puts a person at risk for atherosclerosis by aggravating known risk factors for this disease:

Cholesterol
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 (LDL or "bad" cholesterol).

High Blood Pressure
While cigarette smoking won't cause high blood pressure, if a smoker has hypertension, smoking can increase the risk of malignant hypertension, a dangerous form of high blood pressure. Smoking is hard on the heart.

Also, the nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke damage the endothelium, which sets the stage for the build-up of plaque.

See also:
Smoking and Atherosclerosis
Nicotine
Carbon Monoxide in Cigarette Smoke

Last Updated: 2-5-2006

Also Known As: Hardening of the Arteries