Smoking is a major cause of heart disease, which is the leading cause of death worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco use is responsible for about 12% of all heart disease deaths. In addition to increasing the risk of heart disease, smoking also increases the risk of stroke, lung cancer, and a number of other serious health problems.
The WHO has published a number of reports on the relationship between smoking and heart disease, including:
- “Tobacco and heart disease” (https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241599947)
- “Tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure: cardiovascular disease” (https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241599947)
There are many factors that contribute to the link between smoking and heart disease, including the effects of nicotine on the cardiovascular system, the presence of harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke, and the increased risk of blood clots.
Smoking is a very common behavior, with approximately 1.1 billion people worldwide smoking tobacco regularly. However, the prevalence of smoking varies greatly by country, with the highest rates generally found in low- and middle-income countries.