Smoking and cardiovascular disease

Abstract

Tobacco is currently responsible for the death of about 5 million people worldwide each year, being the increase in cardiovascular diseases a substantial part of these deaths. It acts synergistically with other risk factors, so that smokers with hypertension and hypercholesterolemia can have a 20-fold increase in their cardiovascular mortality. Smokers that quit tobacco have a quick decrease in their cardiovascular risk quickly, so that by 2-3 years they have a risk similar to that of the non smokers. The mechanism of action of tobacco on the cardiovascular system is complex, producing hemodynamic changes, endothelial dysfunction, thrombogenic and atherogenic alterations, worsening of the lipid profile and of the glucose metabolism, and increasing many circulating pro-inflammatory factors. There is no way of consuming tobacco without risk, especially in the inhaled forms. The current fight of the administrations of developed countries is displacing the consumption of tobacco to the developing countries and to the most vulnerable population segments, as young people or low social class.