The Hazards of Smoking: Linking Smoking to Coronary Heart Disease and Lung Diseases

Smoking is closely related to the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases. The harmful substances in tobacco not only harm lung health but also lead to the occurrence of coronary heart disease. Let's take a look at the hazards of smoking regularly.

Smoking can cause coronary heart disease?

During the process of smoking, a large amount of combustion products are inhaled, which have adverse effects on the nervous system, blood vessels, and blood pressure itself. Among them, three components are the main triggering factors for coronary heart disease: nicotine, carbon monoxide (CO), and oxidative substances.

The ability of smoking to refresh the mind and stimulate the sympathetic nervous system is closely related. Exciting the sympathetic nervous system can cause peripheral artery constriction, increase blood pressure, and enhance the force of blood pressure on blood vessels, thereby damaging the endothelium of blood vessels.

Endothelial damage provides an opportunity for lipids to enter the endothelium and form plaques. The plaques in the coronary arteries increase with the increasing damage to the endothelium, causing diffuse vascular lesions, narrowing of the lumen, and reduced blood flow. This can induce angina pectoris and even myocardial infarction.

Long-term high blood pressure also leads to increased cardiac load and increased oxygen consumption of the myocardium, further exacerbating myocardial cell hypoxia and aggravating heart damage.

The products produced during tobacco combustion, when inhaled into the body, also stimulate the body to produce oxidative stress reactions. These reactions can gradually enlarge atherosclerotic plaques. These unstable plaques will eventually rupture due to fluctuations in blood pressure and vascular constriction. The rupture of plaques in the coronary arteries is the culprit of angina pectoris and even heart attacks.

The 4 hazards of smoking

1. High blood pressure

The main component of cigarettes is nicotine, a carcinogen. When this substance enters the body, the secretion of adrenaline and thyroid hormone will increase, causing a sharp increase in blood pressure, which is very dangerous.

2. Arteriosclerosis

People who smoke regularly have narrowed or spastic blood vessels, which increases the resistance to blood flow, damages the blood vessel wall, causes platelets to aggregate, and makes the blood more viscous. This leads to symptoms of arteriosclerosis in various organs.

3. Sleep disturbance

Smokers have less sleep time and poorer sleep quality compared to non-smokers. Nicotine is the main culprit affecting sleep. Poor sleep quality can worsen mental state after waking up.

4. Lung diseases

Smoking is one of the main causes of chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and chronic airway obstruction. Smoking can cause changes in the structure and function of central and peripheral airways, alveoli, and capillaries, and also affects the immune system of the lungs, leading to the development of lung diseases.

3 lung-moistening teas for regular smokers

1. Lily and Rock Sugar Tea

This tea has the effect of nourishing yin, moistening the throat, and benefiting the lungs. Take 15g of lily and add an appropriate amount of rock sugar. Add boiling water and let it soak with the lid on for 15 minutes. Stir with chopsticks before drinking.

2. Sand Ginseng and Jujube Tea

This tea has the effect of nourishing yin and moistening the lungs. Take 15g of sand ginseng and 5 jujubes, add boiling water and let it soak with the lid on for 15 minutes, then drink.

3. Honey Pomelo Tea

Wash the pomelo with saline water, then soak it in warm water for 5 minutes, peel off the skin and cut it into thin strips. Peel the flesh, remove the skin and seeds, and blend it into a paste using a blender.

Put the pomelo peel and flesh paste into a pot, add 1 small bowl of water and rock sugar, simmer over low heat for half an hour until it thickens slightly and the pomelo peel becomes slightly translucent. Then turn up the heat and reduce the liquid. Let it cool when warm (below 50°C), then mix in honey. Seal it in a container and let it sit for about 10 days before consuming.

Making a drink with pomelo and honey is a great health product. Honey contains various vitamins and minerals, and has the function of nourishing the center, moisturizing dryness, and nourishing the lungs.