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It’s essential that you take the plunge to give up smoking in order to ensure your heart’s health, and to live a healthier and more fulfilling life. We frequently hear about how smoking hurts the lungs. Why not, it’s true after all, lungs of smokers take in more than 7,000 chemicals—70 of which are known to cause cancer—from cigarettes. But in no way should we underestimate its effect on the heart and blood vessels. Smoking is the chief cause of heart disease, at the same time is one of the most preventable causes of heart disease. Your arteries become stiff when you smoke, which makes your heart work harder. Smoking also can set off an abnormal heart rhythm and raise blood pressure, which are leading causes of stroke. Smoking lowers HDL or "good" cholesterol (high levels of LDL or “bad” cholesterol is a major cardiovascular disease risk factor), causes thickening and narrowing of blood vessels, makes blood sticky and more likely to clot, which can block blood flow to the

  Heart disease, sometimes called coronary heart disease (CHD), refers to any condition affecting the ticker, and is the leading cause of death among adults in the United States. Heart disease is not a single type of disease, it encompasses a broad range of conditions and diseases including congenital disease of the heart, coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure (CHF), and heart attack. Talking about the causes, there are many- each being a factor in developing cardiovascular disease. The more factors an individual has in their life, the higher their risk of developing heart disease. Some of the factors may include lack of physical activity, being overweight, improper nutrient supply in the body, etc. Depression and the feeling of isolation may as well contribute to the causes of such heart diseases. The following list discusses the main causes of cardiac disease you should be aware of: Smoking - Smoking is one of the biggest causes of heart disease that can damage the blo