Smoking and vaping have a direct and powerful impact on cardiovascular health. Even light smoking — 1 to 5 cigarettes per day — significantly increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular events.
Tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals, many of which are harmful to the heart and blood vessels. The effects include:
💡 The good news: The heart begins to recover almost immediately after quitting. Within 24 hours, blood pressure and heart rate start to normalise. Within 1 year, the risk of heart attack drops by around 50%. Within 5–10 years, coronary heart disease risk approaches that of a non-smoker.
All current smokers aged 40 or older
Ex-smokers who smoked heavily (10+ pack years)
Smokers with diabetes, high BP, or family history
Smokers experiencing chest pain or palpitations
Smokers with a QRISK3 score above 7.5%
Smokers considering HRT or oral contraceptives
Everything you need to know about Smoking & Vaping Heart Health FAQs and how private cardiac assessment works.
Smoking damages blood vessels, increases blood pressure, and accelerates plaque build-up in the arteries, significantly increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke
Although vaping may contain fewer toxins than cigarette smoke, nicotine still increases heart rate and blood pressure and may contribute to cardiovascular risk. The long-term effects of vaping on heart health are still being studied.
Yes. Smokers and former smokers have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, so early screening can help detect problems before symptoms develop and guide risk reduction strategies.
