The health consequences of smoking. Cardiovascular diseases.

Cigarette smoking is a major cause of atherosclerotic diseases. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain the leading disease cause of death and disability in the United States. Smoking contributes to much of the premature and overall disease burden from CVD. Smoking affects the physiologic, pathologic, hematologic, and metabolic factors that lead to the initiation, progression, and sequelae of atherosclerosis. Smoking cessation reduces the progression of atherosclerosis and the subsequent morbidity, mortality, and years of productive life lost from CVD.