World No Tobacco Day: Every puff puts your heart at risk!
Health experts are using World No Tobacco Day to warn that smoking causes immediate damage to the cardiovascular system. Every cigarette triggers a stress response that increases heart rate and blood pressure while reducing oxygen levels in the blood.
Why it matters
Public health awareness campaigns are critical for reducing the long-term burden of smoking-related cardiovascular diseases.
SMOKING damage starts immediately. As South Africa marks World No Tobacco Day on 31 May, health experts are warning smokers that every cigarette places immediate strain on the heart and blood vessels - and the damage starts within minutes of lighting up. Doctors and health organisations said smoking is not only dangerous in the long term, but every puff triggers a powerful stress response inside the body. According to experts, nicotine quickly enters the bloodstream and causes the release of adrenaline, leading to an increase in heart rate and blood pressure. At the same time, blood vessels narrow, making it harder for blood and oxygen to move through the body.
The content is based on established medical consensus and public health warnings.
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