Is smoking a risk factor for myocardial infarction? if yes, why?

is a smoker at high risk for myocardial infarction? what are the effects of smoking to the functioning of heart and its blood supply?

smoking hardens your arteries. This prevents them from being elastic like normal and being able to stretch and expand. Therefore if you have cholesterol buildup on the inside of an artery the artery is no longer able to expand and let the blood cells flow around the build up. In some cases the force of the blood backing up forces the cholesterol to break loose and the clump ends up lodging in an artery in your heart because they are so tiny which blocks the blood flow to an area of the heart and causes a myocardial infarction. Smoking also increases the levels of carbon monoxide in your blood and carbon dioxide in your tissues. the blood cells supply oxygen to your tissues but because of the smoke and carbon monoxide the cells are unable to pick up the carbon dioxide that is left after your body uses the oxygen which causes poor circulation to the affected areas.

It destroys your heart, moron. Enough said.

it constricts your blood vessels and put more strain on your heart.

anything smoke related is lethal short or long term

A smoker has a higher risk of getting thrombosis or blood clots which can lead to a heart attack among other things.

Yes, becouse your get more poison than you ever imagine in your luns, when you smoke. They are about 3000 nocive substances in a cigare! Quit now!

Nicotine constricts the coronary arteries as well as the others.

YES YES YES

Smoking constricts the blood vessels, making the heart work harder.

Smoking is bad for your health, period. Cigarette smoke contains carcinogens that interfere with vascular function which in turn interfere with your lungs and heart.

Oh yes. Google smoking or go to Web MD and read what it does to the cardiac muscle.......

鈥?Yes, you are right as smoking is a definite risk factor for MI.

鈥?Tobacco use has been implicated in cardiovascular diseases, heart attacks, fatal heart failure, and stroke. It causes the arteries to narrow and undergo spasm, while at the same time raises your heart rate and its contractile force. Nicotine, perhaps the most commonly recognized ingredient of tobacco, is an addictive central nervous system stimulant. When nicotine is taken into the lungs, it is transmitted to the brain in seconds. It causes the heart to beat more rapidly, drawing in and pushing out more blood. It also makes the veins and arteries constrict, thus requiring the heart to labor harder. Thus, more oxygenation is required for the same effort undertaken by a non-smoker. This results in increased blood pressure and heart rate.

鈥?The other effect comes from the carbon monoxide that is among the many toxic chemicals present in tobacco smoke. It impedes the ability of red blood cells to carry oxygen to bodily tissues, including heart and brain tissue. The lack of oxygen causes the heart to work harder and can lead to a thickening of the walls and possible myocardial infarction in the persons having a compromised coronary circulation.

Oxygen deficiency. Period.
Smoking to myocardial infarction is like smoking a Newport while you put one finger in 1 nostril while you run up the stairs.