Cardiovascular Effects of Secondhand Smoke

Abstract

Background-Secondhand smoke increases the risk of coronary heart disease by Ϸ30%. This effect is larger than one would expect on the basis of the risks associated with active smoking and the relative doses of tobacco smoke delivered to smokers and nonsmokers. Methods and Results-We conducted a literature review of the research describing the mechanistic effects of secondhand smoke on the cardiovascular system, emphasizing research published since 1995, and compared the effects of secondhand smoke with the effects of active smoking. Evidence is rapidly accumulating that the cardiovascular system-platelet and endothelial function, arterial stiffness, atherosclerosis, oxidative stress, inflammation, heart rate variability, energy metabolism, and increased infarct size-is exquisitely sensitive to the toxins in secondhand smoke.

Short‐Term E‐Cigarette Exposure Increases the Risk of Thrombogenesis and Enhances Platelet Function in Mice

“…Moreover, our data revealed that the e‐cigarette–exposed platelets are less sensitive to inhibition by PGI 2 , in comparison to those from clean air; which may have also contributed to the thrombosis phenotype in these mice. Importantly, these results are also “similar” to those observed with traditional tobacco smoke, which heightens platelet activation (eg, aggregation)17, 94 and renders platelets less sensitive to PGI 2. 95 On the other hand, we observed no difference in the activation state of leukocytes between e‐cigarettes and clean air.…”

Free Radicals: Properties, Sources, Targets, and Their Implication in Various Diseases

“…The ROS dependent activation of the MMPs results in the degradation of intimal extracellular matrices and promotes smooth muscle cell migration [162]. Cigarette smoking contain large amount of free radicals and may down-regulate key exogenous and endogenous antioixdants such as vitamin-D, carotenes, GPx and SOD and can lead to the dysfunction of monocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells [163]. The proatherogenic agents such as oxidaised lipids, high glucose and cigarette constituents give rise to increased free radical production.…”

Molecular Studies on Coronary Artery Disease—A Review

“…The mechanisms by which cigarette smoke causes CVD are various and are synergistic. They include thrombosis, atherosclerosis, endothelial dysfunction and hemodynamic effects [42][43][44]. In a previous study by the authors [45] subjects having the habit of smoking have 10.035 times increased chance of developing CAD than subjects without smoking.…”