Abstract

RISK OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES IN HYPERTENSIVE SMOKERS- A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

Bajpai Ritu Santosh* and Sagar Ashwini Hanmant

ABSTRACT

Cigarette smoking is the most preventable cause of cardiovascular diseases. Smoking may increase the chances of causing the diseases like hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, glucose intolerance and also the diabetes mellitus. Smoking has also been implicated in the development of cor pulmonale, but a direct association with congestive heart failure has not been established. The relationship of smoking and cardiovascular diseases is well established and unequivocal. Adverse effects on lipid profile has been noted well but the relationship between these changes the risk of cardiovascular diseases remains to be confirmed. The rapid improvement of the risk of cardiovascular disease after cessation of smoking suggests that these processes are readily reversible. Impairment of endothelial function, arterial stiffness, inflammation, lipid modification as well as alteration ofantithrombic and prothrombic factor are smoking related major determinants of initiation and acceleration of atherothrombic process, leading to cardiovascular events. As concern the impact of chronic smoking on blood pressure, available data do not put clearly in evidence a direct casual relationship between these two cardiovascular risk factors, a concept supported by the evidence that no lower blood pressure values have been observed after chronic smoking cessation.

Keywords: Smoking, cardiovascular diseases, blood pressure.