The smoke it kills more than eight million people worldwide every year. This means that almost 22,000 people die every day from using tobacco or being exposed to secondhand smoke. Of the 1.3 billion tobacco users in the world, over 80% live in low- and middle-income countries.

Worldwide, approximately 37 million children aged 13-15 years use tobacco and in many countries the rate of e-cigarette use among adolescents exceeds that of adults. In Europe, according to the WHO, 20% of 15-year-olds have used e-cigarettes in the last 30 days.

The above is reported by the Hellenic Cardiology Society (EKE) on the occasion of tomorrow’s World Anti-Tobacco Day, promoting the message “Quit smoking, gain life”.

Cigarettes cause cardiovascular disease

Cigarette smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals and works in a variety of ways to cause cardiovascular disease, the CSR notes.

Tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke are among the leading causes of cardiovascular disease, contributing to around 17% of all deaths from cardiovascular disease – the equivalent of more than three million people each year.

Its use damages blood vessels, increases blood pressure and reduces exercise tolerance. Smoking also reduces the amount of oxygen the blood can carry to the heart and increases the risk of blood clots, which in turn can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

Cardiovascular disease is by far the largest cause of death associated with secondhand smoke, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease by approximately 25-30%. About 45% of the estimated 1.3 deaths worldwide caused by secondhand smoke are attributable to ischemic heart disease. Frequent exposure to secondhand smoke, either at work or at home, has been found to nearly double the risk of heart attack.

What we should know about smoking

  • The risk of cardiovascular disease from smoking increases with the amount of smoke and years of smoking.
  • Increased risk exists with exposure to even low levels of cigarette smoke, such as exposure to secondhand smoke.
  • Smoking just one cigarette a day carries about half the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke caused by smoking 20 cigarettes a day.

Quit smoking, get a life

  • Within 20 minutes of stopping smoking, blood pressure and pulse return to normal levels and circulation improves.
  • Within eight hours, blood oxygen levels rise and the chances of a heart attack begin to drop.
  • Within 24 hours, the carbon monoxide is eliminated from the body and the lungs begin to clear the mucus and debris.
  • Within 72 hours, the lungs can hold more air and breathing becomes easier.
  • Within five years, the risk of a heart attack drops to about half that of a smoker.
  • Within 10 years, the risk of lung cancer is reduced to about half that of a smoker.
  • Within 15 years, the risk of cardiovascular disease becomes almost the same as someone who has never smoked.
  • Quitting smoking also has value in older people: among smokers who quit at age 66, men gained up to two years of life and women gained up to 3.7 years.

CSR supports WHO’s efforts and goals

The president of the EKE, Professor of Cardiology Giorgos Kochiadakis, on the occasion of the World Anti-Tobacco Day, says: “Tobacco control is a key element for the reduction of heart diseases and must be drastically reduced. Public health organizations, the scientific medical community, citizens can work together to create a world where the next generation will be free from the dangers of tobacco and nicotine addiction.”

The WHO argues that governments can help users quit smoking by raising taxes on tobacco products, imposing bans on tobacco advertising and offering services to help people quit. Evidence shows that smoke-free legislation is one of the most cost-effective ways to prevent cardiovascular disease.

Despite significant progress in reducing tobacco use, the emergence of e-cigarettes and other new tobacco and nicotine products poses a serious threat to youth and tobacco control. Studies show that e-cigarette use increases conventional cigarette use, particularly among young non-smokers, by almost three times, the CSR reports.