Analyse the relationship between smoking and coronary heart disease and lung cancer.

Cardiovascular diseases affect the heart and arteries causing ill health and is also the leading cause of death in the u.k. An estimated 198,000 people are dying every year in the u.k of (CVD). (CVD) links to smoking include:- High blood pressure, Coronary heart disease, Angina, Atherosclerosis, Heart failure and Heart attacks.




Cerebrovascular diseases affect the flow of blood to the brain and is the third largest cause of death in the u.k , they include 'Dementia' and 'strokes'. In England 111,000 people have strokes every year.

Smoking is thought to be the cause of 85-90% of lung cancer and is the leading cause of cancer related deaths. In 2007, there were 29,660 deaths in England and Wales.

Social smoking ( only smoking on occasions) still increases the risk of coronary heart disease and cancer-30% more than none smokers.

Research has shown that smoking 4 joints (tobacco mixed with marijuana) may cause as much damage as 20 cigarettes.

Second hand or passive smoke contains 4,000 chemicals and of those 69 of them are carcinogenic. Passive smoking carries the increased risk of lung cancer (24%) and heart disease(25%). It also gives a higher chance of blood clots due to the blood becoming sticky.

Ref:-Image from www.scandirectory.com/blog/smoking_Heartdisease_Scan_Blog_June09.jpg&imgrefur

www.nhs.uk/conditions/smoking-(quitting)/pages/risks.aspx ( last reviewed 13/04/10) (accessed on 03/05/2010)

www.nsh.uk/chq/pages/2289.aspx?categoryid=53&subcategoryid=536 (last reviewed 29/11/2007) (accessed 03/05/2010)