Up in Smoke: Smoking and the Heart

Many diseases have been known to be caused by tobacco consumption but the public seems to be undereducated about the cardiovascular risks associated with this habit. The tobacco plant has a long history of use amongst many cultures dating back to the dawn of civilization. Traditionally consumed during rituals and ceremonies, tobacco consumption is still deeply ingrained into the culture of many different people. When tobacco use became widespread across the United States it was very much in fashion and little was known about any potential negative side effects from smoking. Twentieth century advertisements propagated tobacco use among the entire population, targeting every demographic including women and children. During the 1960’s the United States Surgeon General conducted studies linking smoking to lung cancer. Cigarette smoking began to drop as more people became aware of the dangers associated with tobacco consumption. Emerging research is bringing to light even more health concerns caused by smoking, including cardiovascular health risks that were previously not widely known