For a majority of people, smoking is just a small way to relieve stress. While some think just one smoke occasionally harmless, experts say even small amounts of tobacco silently damage your heart – especially in women. On No Smoking Day, doctors are highlighting an important – but often overlooked fact - smoking affects women’s hearts differently, and more severely, than men’s.
According to studies, women who smoke have a 25 per cent higher risk of developing coronary artery disease and other deadly heart issues as compared with men who smoke the same number of cigarettes. Coronary artery disease occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart become narrowed or blocked, increasing the risk of heart attacks and other serious cardiovascular problems. “On No Smoking Day, it is important to highlight a striking fact: smoking does not affect men and women the same way,” said Dr. Arun B. Nair, Consultant psychiatrist and Professor of psychiatry, GMC, Trivandrum Medical College.
According to Dr. Nair, the reason lies in biological differences between men and women that make the female cardiovascular system more vulnerable to tobacco toxins.
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Smoking for a long time damages the endothelium - the delicate inner lining of blood vessels, which causes inflammation and the buildup of plaque inside arteries, a key step in the development of heart disease. While this process occurs in everyone who smokes, women face several additional biological challenges that increase their risk. Here is why:
Women generally have smaller arteries than men. When smoking causes plaque or clots, even a similar build-up of plaque can affect them more and increase their risk of heart disease.
Estrogen helps keep blood vessels flexible and supports healthy cholesterol. Smoking is linked to earlier menopause and a drop in estrogen, which may lead to earlier loss of the heart’s natural protection.
According to studies, women who smoke may have higher platelet activation, meaning their blood may be more prone to clotting. Since most heart attacks happen when a clot suddenly blocks an artery, this higher clotting risk is a major danger.
For women with diabetes or high blood pressure, smoking is even more harmful. Research shows that these major risk factors tend to increase heart attack risk more sharply in women than in men.
Another challenge is that women often experience atypical heart attack symptoms, which can delay diagnosis and treatment. Instead of severe chest pain, women may experience:
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