Smoke's Effect on Heart Health: A Closer Look

The Framingham Heart Study took a deep dive into how smoking affects these key measures: central arterial pressure and other hemodynamic indicators. The study was interested in seeing if smokers had different results on these heart measures. They also wondered if these results would stay the same or change over time. To look at this, they split the study into two parts. The first part was a snapshot at a specific moment (Dataset one). While the second part tracked changes over time (Dataset one and two). You might think that smoking only affects the lungs. However, the results showed a different story. People who smoked had higher central arterial pressures compared to those who did not smoke. In terms of numbers, current smokers had an extra 3. 6 mmHg bolster to their central aortic systolic pressure. You might wonder Does this added pressure mean anything? Amazingly, an extra 3. 6 mmHg in central aortic pressure doubled heart risks. When it comes to heart health, it seems even a small number is a big deal. Long-term effects were also analyzed. Smokers who gave up the habit saw improvements in their hemodynamic measures. This shows that quitting smoking can have a positive impact on heart health. Smoking was found to lower blood flow velocity in the ascending aorta. This is important because it affects how blood moves through the heart. Even former smokers had reduced blood flow velocity. During the follow-up period, those who continued to smoke had a 3. 5% higher chance of experiencing heart events. Smoking does not just affect a single part of the heart. Smoking has broader effects on the heart’s hemodynamic measures. From damaging your lungs, to boosting your central aortic pressures, smoking doesn't discriminate. Smoking also impacts the way your blood flows through your heart. To help yourself be heart healthy, consider quitting. Quitting smoking and focusing on your heart health do not have to be difficult. There are many ways to reduce the impact of smoking on your heart. Surely it is a key piece to staying healthy.