From the moment the smoke reaches your lungs, your heart must work harder, a total of 10 to 25 beats per minute. Smoking can result in cardiac arrhythmia's due to the effect of nicotine on the heart. Blood pressure increases 10 to15% putting more stress on heart and blood vessels. This increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Nicotine increases the release of catecholamine – a hormone that narrows arteries and limits blood flow – increasing your risk of vascular disease of the arms and legs. This condition is characterized by a breakdown of the tissue on the feet, legs, hands and arms. Severe cases of tissue breakdown require amputation.

When you smoke, carbon monoxide – the colorless, odorless, deadly gas present in car exhaust – passes immediately into your blood. Carbon monoxide binds to the oxygen receptor sites and “kicks out” the oxygen molecules in your red blood cells.

Hemoglobin – the protein that feeds oxygen to organs, tissues, and cells – is bound to the carbon monoxide and can no longer carry oxygen. This means that less oxygen reaches your brain and vital organs. Your body cells need oxygen for energy. Less oxygen means less energy.

As you take your first puff, irritating gases (formaldehyde, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide) begin to work on the sensitive membranes of your eyes, nose and throat. These gases eventually produce the distinctive “smoker’s cough”.