How does smoking increase the risks of atherosclerosis?
The nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke damage the endothelium, which sets the stage for the build-up of plaque. Atherosclerosis is a disease in which fatty substances such as cholesterol, cellular waste, calcium and other substances are deposited along the lining of artery walls in a person’s body. These sticky, yellowish deposits, known as plaque, build up over time, hindering blood flow. Also known as hardening of the arteries, atherosclerosis often starts early in life and progresses slowly as a person ages. Atherosclerosis typically affects medium and large arteries in the body. Many scientists believe that damage to the endothelium, innermost layer of the artery, is where atherosclerosis begins. Damage to the endothelium allows plaque to build up along the lining of arterial walls, and as it does, blood flow is contricted and the supply of oxygen to the body is decreased. Plaque can rupture and cause blood clots (thrombus). These blood clots can break away and enter t
