Why does smoking cause hardening of the arteries?

Learn why smoking is a risk factor for atherosclerosis, a form of heart disease also known as hardening of the arteries. ... Damage to the endothelium allows plaque to build up along the lining of your arterial walls, and as it does, blood flow is constricted and the supply of oxygen to your body is decreased. read more

Three possible causes of damage are: Elevated levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood; High blood pressure; Cigarette smoking; Smoking has a big role in the growth of atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries, aorta and arteries in the legs. It makes fatty deposits more likely to form and to grow bigger and faster. read more

Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) is a disorder in which arteries (blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood from the heart to other parts of the body) become narrowed because fat (cholesterol deposits called atherosclerosis) is first deposited on the inside walls of the arteries, then becomes hardened by fibrous tissue and calcification (arteriosclerosis). read more

"If people can commit to eat less and walk for 20 minutes every day, it will make a big difference." Smoking. Smoking is linked to progression of atherosclerosis. It harms the inner lining of blood vessels, increases risk of injury to the inner lining of arteries, raises LDL cholesterol, and lowers HDL (good) cholesterol. read more