Smoking of cigarettes and other forms of tobacco have crucial effects on heart functionality due to the addiction it brings about. Tobacco has been known to the major cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. According to the statistics compiled by the European Society of Cardiology, it was discovered that smoking causes 28% cardiovascular deaths in men aged between 35 and 65 years and 13% in women in the same maturity bracket. Smoking proves to be a real threat by killing about 6 million people in the world by causing lung cancer, related heart diseases and other associated illnesses. Cigarette smoke contains more than 40000 chemicals with various effects on the heart. The chemicals include nicotine, oxidative oxides, carbon monoxide, carbonyls, carbon disulphides, and benzene. Nicotine and carbon monoxide among the components have been widely studied and proven to possess harmful effects on the cardiovascular system. However, other harmful components are generic products of combustion of organic matter. These ingredients of the tobacco smoke cause serious harm on the hearth through initiating oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, lowering the levels of cardioprotective lipoproteins, and, increasing the concentrations of the cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood circulation.

Smoking and vaping have been proven to be among the top causes of cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease, stroke, periphery artery disease and aortic aneurysm. It has also been associated with various types of cancer resulting in obstructive pulmonary disease. Either passive or active smoking has the capacity to initiate cardiovascular complications by mechanisms such as inflammation, hyperlipidaemia, thrombosis, and enhanced oxidative stress. Tobacco smoke is more harmful to the extent that even exposures to small quantities such as a few cigarettes in a day, passive smoking or occasional smoking have death threatening effects on the cardiovascular system.

Nicotine and its Pharmacological Properties

Nicotine is one of the most harmful components of tobacco smoke classified as an alkaloid with a high addiction property. Many tobacco consumers find it hard to quit smoking due to their addiction to nicotine. Cessation of smoking leads to the addicts to get hooked to vaping which is an equally harmful contributor to cardiovascular diseases — frequent cigarette smoking results to the dependent of the accumulated nicotine stores in the body. The urge to consume cigarettes tends to be higher in the morning as a result of the mindset developed in the individual. As the day progresses, the individual smokes more to relieve nicotine urgency in the mind.

One cigarette provides an average 2.2mg of nicotine. An individual consuming a packet of cigarette in a day absorbs an average of 30mg of nicotine. Nicotine has some physiological functions: it serves as a stimulant and a depressant. It raises the heart rate, increases coronary workload, deregulates cardiac autonomic function and stimulates the release of adrenal and catecholamine. Due to these effects, several smokers have reported complaints such as ever recurring duties, reduced fury, sadness, higher pressure after smoking. Abrupt stoppage of nicotine has adverse withdrawal symptoms such as increased water intake, anxiety, nervousness, eagerness, starvation, shakes, and heart tremors cigarette thirst among many more. Most of the mentioned symptoms may be so severe within a short period following termination of nicotine usage and may lead to death when not monitored properly though they are short term and finally stops within a few weeks. However, other symptoms such as weight gain, cigarette longing and appetite may take several years from the moment nicotine dependence was stopped.

Benefits of Quitting Tobacco smoking on Cardiovascular System

Despite the dangers of the withdrawal symptoms on the cessation of smoking pieces of evidence of beneficial aspects are encouraging. However, the time frame to achieve the positive effects of stopped nicotine usage may vary depending on the commitment of an individual and hence cannot be categorically specified. Some research studies have proposed 10 years after smoke cessation, the cardiovascular disease mortality risk levels to those individuals who have never smoked a cigarette in their lives. Those smokers who changed their strategy to using the pipe or continued to smoke though at a reduced rate have a higher mortality risk compared to those who completely stopped smoking. Other studies also suggest the importance of stopping smoking at a younger age. Those who ceased cigarette smoking aged between 34 and 44 years have a leveled survival rate compared to those who never smoked.

It is important to note that the benefits of cigarette cessation are evident however; a clear strategy to facilitate more effective cessation has not been concluded. Honest cooperation between the patient and the counseling professionals should be encouraged. Reinforced follow-up coupled with advice and health talks on patients has proved to be important in encouraging smoke cessation. Introduction of nicotine replacement therapy has also helped in increasing smoke cessation. This involves administration of nicotine through other means such as skin patch, nasal spray or gum. When the replacement therapy is coupled with antidepressant drugs such as amfebutamone have shown to reduce the rate of smoke cessation within a one year period. The use of other components such as the placebo has also helped in reducing nicotine dependence since the urge is more of mindset but the use of other agents such as Nortriptyline has proved to be more useful. The success of the therapy is reduced if the population is exposed to other tobacco products, adverts and sports concerning the rate of cigarette consumption.

Effects of Inadequate Sleep on Cardiovascular System

Enough sleep is an important factor normal function of the cardiovascular system. Several studies have documented the capability of sleep deprivation to cause various heart diseases independently. The average enough sleep per night should be 6.8 hours. Sleep deprivation and heart diseases are closely related in the modern world with a higher mortality rate. In a general view, poor periods of sleep have been singled out to be a crucial contributor of diseases such as cancer, obesity and heart-related diseases. Poor sleep can be described as having a difficulty falling asleep or struggling to stay asleep, dependence on sleeping pills, daytime fatigue, and, problems in breathing while asleep commonly known as snoring. Even for healthy persons, a disturbed sleep for a single instance increases the risk of mortality from the heart-related disease.

Sleep deprivation has wide consequences which collectively result in cardiovascular disease. The effects include calcium deposit, obesity and irregular heart rate. Sleep disorders have other systemic effects such as the endocrine, immune and metabolic pathways resulting in the unhealthy outcomes contributing to heart diseases.

Calcium accumulation

Poor sleep characterized by long or short sleep enhances calcium deposit which is a threat for the coronary artery associated heart disease. According to a 2015 research study revealed that individuals who had less than 5 hours of sleep have a 50% chance of accumulation of calcium in the coronary artery. Increased calcium deposits have also been linked to increased blood pressure as a result of short sleep. The study also indicated 70% calcium accumulation in arteries of individuals enjoying long sleep. However, poor sleep of any nature generally contributes to at least 20% calcium accumulation in the arteries resulting in the blood vessels becoming stiff.

Obesity

Sleep deprivation has been actively linked to a higher chance of developing obesity which is an important agent in developing heart disease. During normal night sleep, the hypothalamus, an important part of the brain, increases the production of leptin hormone. The hormone plays a crucial role in regulating appetite. At the same time, Ghrelin hormone production is regulated. Ghrelin hormone is responsible for an increased appetite for unhealthy fatty foods. In situations of less sleep, the ghrelin hormone production goes high, resulting in an increased risk of unhealthy weight gain and more pressure on the heart. A study done in 2017 on middle-aged people with metabolic syndrome indicates that those who experienced lower than 5 hours a night had a higher risk of contracting heart disease and other unhealthy weight gain related disorders.

Blood pressure and Heart rate

Several studies have shown that sleep deprivation results in increased blood pressure. Less sleep initiates production of inflammation factors such as the interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, and, tumor necrosis factor among other agents. These agents have been closely linked to various heart diseases. However, the development of both high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases increases with age. As people grow old, they find it hard to have a proper deep sleep. The lack of enough sleep becomes a predisposing factor for the contraction of hypertension. People who are sleep deprived have higher and irregular heart rates which are a characteristic of a bad heart.

The understanding of the role played by enough sleep in maintaining healthy heart has provided an elaborate explanation of why there are increased cases of heart diseases among the middle age population. Most young adults are engaged in several activities which deprive them of enough sleep. Such activities may include jobs, sports, studies and drugs among others. In avoiding this developing trend, time for sleep should always be set aside for a healthy heart. The proper schedule should be developed dictating all the events and enough time should be allocated for sleep at least 7 hours a night for sleep. Other sleep disorders such as insomnia and sleep apnea, medical attention should be sort soon enough to avoid complications.

Effects of College Dining on the Cardiovascular System

When people change their environment from home dwellings to the various learning institutions, dietary naivety becomes a major problem. They end up feeding on cheap fast moving meals which are also poor in nutritional standards. The learners are faced with the freedom to choose from a range of both healthy and unhealthy foods. Most of the college students lack the crucial dietary knowledge to help them decide on which food is most appropriate and which one is not. On the other hand these individuals are forced to adapt to the global change in eating habits. Introduction of snacking and snack foods which has widely grown coupled with increased frequency. People have opted to eat in restaurants, food outlets and take out foods which majorly made up of highly processed and fried foods. These feeding habits have resulted in the changes in the global food supply with dietary implications. The shifts led to the introduction of refined carbohydrates and added sugars. The evidence of this shift is the production of white breads and the sweetened beverages. College dining has encouraged the production of packaged food supply whereby majority of them have added sugars.

College dining have encouraged the consumption of vegetable oils which is generally unhealthy compared to the animal fats. This dynamics have led to increased trading on oil seeds and production of margarines and unhealthy bleached oils for use in the processed foods. Palm oil has been used to produce saturated fatty acids and the partially hydrogenated fats. Vegetable oil production increased the consumption dietary cholesterol which intern resulted in several heart diseases.

Due to the poor quality of food sold to students, this enable them to consume excessive calories from high-fat content snacks such as chips, cookies and cakes among others sold on various food outlets and along the street vendors making them consume excess amount of recommended fats. Many college students fail to consume the recommended amount of whole grains and fiber.  Most of the students dining environments also contribute towards worsening of student feeding behavior. These dining halls do not regulate the amount, what to eat and the frequency of the feeding. The dining halls are not restricted hence they can access various restaurants, cafes, snack bars among many whereby the availability of healthy meals is hard to find. Consumption of excessive fats results in the development of cardiovascular diseases in young adults. Other students engage in unhealthy means of initiating weight loss which further puts their health in trouble.

Effects of Alcohol Consumption on Cardiovascular System

Alcohol is depressant agent controlling the general mood and behavior of an individual. It does not only affect the brain by interfering with the behavior, speech, thinking and emotions but also affects the normal functions of the heart with deleterious consequences. An individual consuming alcohol has a higher risk of developing various heart diseases, heart attack, or stroke. However, the level of damage of alcohol to the heart depends on the genetic make-up and the drinking habit. Alcohol weakens the heart muscles and initiates the irregular heart rate.

One of the major effects of excessive alcohol consumption is the increased blood pressure. High blood pressure may result to stroke or heart attack which may result in sudden death. Excess alcohol consumption results in a weakened heart muscles. This makes the heart fails to pump blood efficiently. Pumping failure by the heart is referred to as the cardiomyopathy a condition common in individuals who have consumed alcohol over a long period of time. The disease is characterized by heart enlargement, failure and death. Long-term taking of excess alcohol could also lead to weight gain. This is due to the fact that alcohol contains sugars and high in calories. The increased weight put a lot of pressure to the heart forcing to increase rate of pumping resulting to diabetes, heart attack and stroke.

Excessive consumption of alcohol on a short period may result in an irregular heartbeat. The condition can also be referred to as arrhythmia. It can also be caused by heavy drinking of alcohol. After the occurrence of the arrhythmia, the person has high chances of experiencing it again. An irregular heartbeat may easily result in high blood pressure, heart attack or even death. However, the good news is that, alcoholism is treatable. When one stops drinking, the weakened heart muscle gradually strengthens and eventually improves reducing the instances of heart diseases.

Effects of Diabetes on Cardiovascular System

Diabetes is a manageable disease however, even at a controlled sugar level the risk of a diabetic patient developing heart attacks and stroke is higher. This can be explained by conditions associated with the diabetic individuals especially the type 2. The conditions may include hypertension, high circulating cholesterol and lack of exercise among others. For example, sedentary lifestyle is a major risk factor for insulin resistance resulting in high blood glucose which is closely linked to cardiovascular disease. Exercising and programmed weight loss is important in managing diabetes type 2 help in reducing blood pressure and subsequently lower risk of development of heart attack. Again patients with diabetes usually have unhealthy circulating cholesterol such as the high LDL and triglycerides. The deposition of these poor lipid molecules results to heart failure. It is also characterized by lipid disorders associated with insulin resistance known as the dyslipidemia. However, diabetes can be controlled by observing healthy lifestyle which involves following nutritional guidelines. Physical exercise is equally important in regulating both types of diabetes. At advanced stages of diabetes, insulin therapy should be encouraged.

 
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