Do you think smoking and drinking only harm your lungs or liver? Think again! These habits silently damage the most vital organ in your body — your heart. Every puff of smoke and every extra drink you take increases your risk of heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure. Let’s understand how smoking and alcohol slowly affect your heart health and what you can do to protect it.
How Smoking Damages Your Heart?
Smoking is one of the leading causes of heart disease in India. Each puff of cigarette smoke contains toxic chemicals like carbon monoxide and nicotine that enter your bloodstream and damage the inner lining of your arteries. Over time, this causes the arteries to become narrow and stiff — a condition known as atherosclerosis.
As your arteries narrow, blood flow to your heart reduces, forcing it to work harder. This increases your risk of Heart Attack, High Blood Pressure, and stroke. Smokers are also more prone to irregular heartbeats (arrhythmia) and coronary artery disease.
Even secondhand smoke is harmful. Studies show that non-smokers exposed to smoke have a 25–30% higher risk of developing heart disease.
How Alcohol Affects Your Heart?
Alcohol, when taken in excess, can also be harmful to your heart. Heavy drinking weakens the heart muscles, causing cardiomyopathy — a condition where the heart cannot pump blood effectively. It can also lead to high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythm (AFib), and stroke.
While some studies mention moderate red wine may have minor heart benefits due to antioxidants, this is not a reason to start drinking. For people with existing heart conditions, even small amounts of alcohol can worsen the situation.
Dr. Kartik Bhosale - Heart Specialist in Pune
According to Dr. Kartik Bhosale, Best Cardiologist in Pune, it’s never too late to quit smoking or reduce alcohol intake. Your heart begins to recover within weeks of quitting. Oxygen levels improve, blood pressure stabilizes, and the risk of heart attack decreases.
Simple steps like regular exercise, a balanced diet, and routine heart check-ups such as 2D Echo, ECG, or Stress Test (TMT) can help detect early signs of heart problems caused by these habits.
Conclusion:
Your heart works for you every second, so take care of it before it’s too late. Smoking and alcohol may seem harmless at first, but over time they silently damage your heart and blood vessels. Making small lifestyle changes like quitting smoking, limiting alcohol, eating healthy, and exercising regularly can make a big difference.
If you notice symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, or irregular heartbeat, don’t ignore them. Visit Dr. Kartik Bhosale, the Best Cardiologist and Heart Specialist in Pune, for expert advice and advanced heart care.
