Cigarette smoke puts added strain on the heart because it causes vessels to clamp down or constrict.  If some of the blood vessels have already been narrowed or damaged by heart disease, smoking makes the problem worse.

Smoking also causes temporary changes in your heart; it beats faster, raising your blood pressure and reducing blood flow.  Smoking also increases the level of carbon monoxide in your blood, which robs your heart and other tissues of vital oxygen.

Keep browsing to find out more about the risks of smoking and secondhand smoke.  Plus, get helpful hints on how to quit.  It's the single most important change you can make for your heart.