Smoking and a stroke. As stated previously smoking accelerates the onset of strokes, heart attacks and cardiovascular problems. In the case of a stroke this is caused by a lack of blood and oxygen reaching the brain. The major cause is that of a blood clot which is ultimately caused by the arteries narrowing so much that they cannot let blood through. This stops the blood getting to the section of the brain that is starved of oxygen and therefore causing this section to die.
Smoking and heart attacks. When atherosclerosis is so bad, that it causes a blockage in the main artery to the heart it therefore increases the risk of a heart attack. Smokers increase the risk of a heart attack more as the carbon monoxide from the cigarette, enters the body and attaches itself to thr blood cells therefore reducing the oxygen in the blood.
The benefits and effects of giving up smoking, on the cardiovascular system, are immediate and greatly reduce the risk of suffering from any of these diseases. Stoping smoking reverses everything and the blood is less likely to clot. The final benefits are that cholesterol levels are reduced and your blood pressure decreases.