03/10/2013
Quit Smoking
QUIT SMOKING
By : dr . Dissy Pramudita
Cigarette smoke contains more than 4000 harmful chemicals that can damage the body . The chemicals in ci******es especially will cause abnormalities of blood vessels which in turn will increase the risk for heart attack , stroke , hypertension , etc. up to 2-4 times .
Smoking will affect all stages of plaque formation of blood vessels , ranging from damage to the walls of blood vessels to trigger the formation of thrombosis ( blockage of blood vessels ) that causes heart attacks and strokes . Damage to the blood vessels do not only occur in active smokers , but it also occurs in passive smokers .
The exact mechanism how smoking can lead to heart and blood vessel abnormalities are still not known with certainty until today . However it has been known that cigarette capable of causing inflammation in the body , lead to endothelial dysfunction ( blood vessel walls ) , and trigger the formation of oxidative stress that can damage blood vessels further .
In addition , note also that the ni****ne contained in ci******es is a chemical substance that is sympathomimetic that can increase heart rate , increase blood pressure and cardiac output . Ni****ne also has metabolic effects , namely increased lipolysis ( the breakdown of fat ) . Lipolysis will increase the levels of free fatty acids and glycerol levels in the blood . Levels of free fatty acids and glycerol which will increase the metabolism of fat which needs a lot of oxygen . Overall, the effects of ni****ne in the body as a whole will improve the heart's need for oxygen . Increased oxygen demand is too high will lead to a heart attack if the body is not able to supply the oxygen needed by the heart , it is characterized by the onset of chest pain ( angina ) .
Other chemicals in cigarette smoke also will accelerate the formation of blood vessel plaques ( atherosclerotic plaques ) , blood vessels become stiff consequences . Plaque rupture blood vessels that can trigger the formation of blood clots that can block arteries. All events will injure the blood vessel wall . Injured blood vessel walls that will facilitate cholesterol and other fats to stick to the blood vessel . As a result , fatty deposits called plaque will begin to accumulate in the blood vessels and causes blood vessels to become stiff . In addition , smoking also lowers levels of HDL ( good cholesterol ) , which will help clear blockages LDL vessels in the blood .
If plaque clogging arteries are blood vessels to deliver oxygen to the heart , then the heart will be deprived of oxygen . It will cause chest pain ( angina ) . If the blood vessel is blocked completely , so some cardiac organ will die , and this is what is known as a heart attack .
No matter how long you smoked , but quit smoking now is a right decision . As soon as you stop smoking , your heart will be more relaxed , the blood becomes more dilute and less likely to form blood vessel blockage . Lining the blood vessels will begin to recover from the inflammation that inhibits the formation of blood vessel plaques .
Enough to quit smoking has been able to reduce the risk of heart attack by 65 % after 3 years . If you 've had a heart attack , then quitting smoking will prevent another heart attack later in life.