Smoking affects your heart

Smoking can lead to cell and tissue damage throughout your body, and experts say your heart isn’t spared. The US National Heart Lung and Blood Institute says smoking can:
Health Tips
* Decrease the blood’s ability to carry oxygen.
* Force the heart to work harder by raising blood pressure and heart rate.
* Raise triglycerides (fat) and bad cholesterol, while lowering good cholesterol.
* Affect the heart’s normal rhythm.
* Narrow blood vessel walls.
* Increase inflammation, which can lead to increased plaque build-up in blood vessels.