What are the odds of nonsmokers developing cardiovascular disease when compared to smokers?
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the US, according to the American Heart Association’s 2025 heart disease and stroke statistics update. The link between smoking and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) has been studied extensively because of its serious public health impact. Smoking increases the chances of heart disease and stroke.
But what about those who do not smoke? Do they face a similar risk? Have you ever thought about whether they face the same impact as smokers or if their risk is any less?
In this blog, Gauze discusses how smoking influences cardiovascular health in smokers and non-smokers.
Smoking and heart disease
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Physical inactivity
- Obesity
- DiabetesThey are risk factors of heart disease, but smoking is the single most preventable cause of early death.
Misconceptions and realities: smokers, non-smokers, and heart health
Smokers often have the following myth
- Nonsmokers are completely safe from heart disease
- Smoking only harms the lungs
- Quitting smoking late in life has no benefit
- E-cigarettes are safe alternatives
The reality is
- Even though they have a lower risk, high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, and family history can still cause heart problems.
- Smoking damages the heart
- Quitting smoking at any age is beneficial in reducing the risks
- E-cigarettes and vapes still affect the system
How does smoking affect the heart and blood vessels?
Smoking affects the heart and blood vessels in the following ways.
- Damages blood vessels
- Causes a rise in blood pressure
- Increases the heart rate
- Reduces blood flow from the heart
- Reduces the amount of oxygen reaching the body
- Reduces blood flow to the brain
- Raises the risk of blood clots
Mechanism of how smoking contributes to cardiovascular disease
Smoking damages the lining of the coronary arteries because of the presence of acrolein in cigarettes. It affects the body's ability to process cholesterol, resulting in higher levels of it in the blood. It reduces the ratio of high-density lipoprotein (HDL, good cholesterol) to low-density lipoprotein (LDL, bad cholesterol), causing plaque to deposit.
Smoking increases the amount of fibrinogen (a protein that causes blood to clot), which slows blood flow and raises the risk of blockage. Blood vessels constrict, which raises blood pressure.
Carbon monoxide inhalation from cigarette smoke reduces the amount of oxygen that can be carried in the blood, causing shortness of breath and an increased heart rate. Nicotine, the addictive ingredient in cigarettes, increases blood pressure and heart rate, making the heart work harder.
Smoking mortality and life expectancy
- A British doctor's study revealed that lifelong smokers had three times higher mortality than nonsmokers.
- Lifelong smokers lost almost 10 years of life compared to non-smokers
- Similar results were found in studies on women
- Studies revealed that for every four years of smoking after 30, there is a loss of one year of life.
- Stopping at 40 avoids more than 90% of extra deaths, and stopping before 30 years avoids more than 97%
Secondhand smoke
Secondhand smoke is the smoke exhaled by smokers and is produced by burning the end of a little cigarette, cigar, or pipe.
- CDC states that about 34,000 nonsmokers die early from coronary heart disease due to exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke
- Secondhand smoke affects pregnant women, babies, and young children.
Secondhand smoke and its effects
- Secondhand smoke in adults increases the development of coronary heart disease by 25 to 30%
- The risk of developing a stroke also increases by 20 to 30%
- It interferes with the normal functioning of heart, blood, and vascular system
- High-risk individuals should take precautions to avoid breathing secondhand smoke
Non-smokers versus smokers: Risk of cardiovascular diseases
Risk isn’t just about smoking; a non-smoker with uncontrolled blood pressure, obesity, family history, and high cholesterol faces high risk.
A non-smoker has a lower risk of heart disease as they avoid harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke.
A smoker has a high risk of heart attack, stroke, and circulatory diseases. Smoking causes
- Damage to blood vessels
- High blood pressure and inflammation
- Increases blood clotting
The longer and more you smoke, the higher the risk, while quitting smoking reduces heart disease risk.
Quitting smoking
Both addiction and habit make it difficult to quit smoking. The American Heart Association (AHA) claims quitting smoking reduces the risk of heart disease by half and the chance of a repeat heart attack also by half. It lowers
- Risk of atherosclerosis
- Blood clotting
- Irregular heart rhythms
Conclusion
The economic burden of cardiovascular diseases caused by smoking is high. Every cigarette avoided is a step towards a healthy heart and a long life. Quitting smoking reduces the risk of heart disease. A healthy lifestyle, including a heart-healthy diet and regular physical activity, lowers the risk of CVD. Consume more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and limit processed foods. Sugary beverages and foods are rich in saturated and trans fats, which contribute to high cholesterol levels and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Here to answer all your questions
Life expectancy is at least 10 years shorter for smokers compared to non-smokers.
The idea of safe smoking is a myth. There’s no safe level of smoking when it comes to heart health. Smoking even a cigarette can increase the risk of dying from heart disease.
The heart begins to heal as soon as we quit smoking.
- Within 24 hours, the blood pressure and heart rate reduce
- Circulation begins to improve within two to three weeks
- The risk of heart disease drops to 50% within a year
- The risk of stroke reduces within five years
Yes, secondhand smoke damages our cardiovascular system. Regularly breathing smoke from others’ cigarettes, cigars, or pipes harms our blood vessels and heart.
The idea of safe smoking is a myth. There’s no safe level of smoking when it comes to heart health. Smoking even a cigarette can increase the risk of dying from heart disease.
Yes, non-smokers carry the risk of CVD if they have a family history of CVD, obesity, their lifestyle activities do not include eating a healthy diet and physical activity.
