Memorial Health University Physicians -- CVT Surgery

Smoking and Alcohol

Cigarette smoking may cause coronary artery disease (CAD), cancer, and chronic obstructive lung disease. Not only does smoking affect your body, it is also dangerous for the people around you. Numerous studies show that children who grow up with parents who smoke have respiratory problems as a result. Carbon monoxide produced by smoking displaces the amount of oxygen in the blood, which means less oxygen is being transported throughout the body. Cigarette smoking can also increase plaque build-up in the blood vessels, which may lead to a heart attack. Smoking can reduce lung function. Tobacco products contain multiple toxic compounds and are the major cause of chronic obstructive lung disease and chronic respiratory symptoms. Eventually, smoking may cause lung cancer. If you need help to stop smoking, talk to your doctor.

Alcohol can contribute to cardiovascular disease. Alcohol consumption, at any level, tends to raise blood pressure. It can also cause weight problems and raise blood triglyceride levels. This can be especially dangerous for people with cholesterol problems. Very heavy alcohol consumption can cause heart failure by creating an abnormal increase in the volume of the heart. Symptoms of alcohol-related heart problems include chest pain, palpitations (a rapid, violent or throbbing pulsation of the heart), coughing at night, abnormal fatigue, and sometimes breathing difficulties.