how does smoking affect cholesterol levels?
818227
Smoking will constrict all blood vessels which could be a problem if they are already narrowed by plaque from cholesterol.
636876
According to the National Institutes of Health's National\nCholesterol Education Program Study, total cholesterol\nshould be less than 200 mg/dl (fasting or nonfasting). But you should also pay attention to the cholesterol components\nLDL-cholesterol ("bad"cholesterol) and HDL-cholesterol ("good" cholesterol). Tne NCEP study shows the following:\n        LDL-Cholesterol\n             <100       optimal\n             100-129    near optimal/above optimal\n             130-159    borderline high\n             160-189    high\n             >190       very high\n        Total Cholesterol\n             <200       desirable\n             200-239    borderline high\n             >240       high\n        HDL-Cholesterol\n             <40        low\n             >60        high\nNote that a high HDL-cholesterol is desirable because this type of cholesterol prevents the formation of hardened\narteries, whereas LDL-cholesterol promotes the deposition of cholesterol plaques on the arteries and thus causing\natherosclerotic coronary (heart) vascular disease predisposing one to a heart attack.\nAnother fatty substance in the blood, the elevation of which predisposes one to heart disease are TRIGLYCERIDES.\nAgain according to the NCEP study:\n       Normal triglycerides           <150 mg/dl\n       Borderline-high triglycerides  150-199 mg/dl\n       High triglycerides             200-499 mg/dl\n       Very high triglycerides        >500 mg/dl\nIf you have risk factors such as cigarette smoking\nsymptoms of heart disease, high blood pressure,\ndiabetes and post-coronary artery bypass, you have to seriously consider lowering your total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides by modifications in your lifetsyle, body weight, diet, exercise, and use of cholesterol-lowering drugs. If you do not have the above risk factors, it may still be prudent to maintain optimal levels of above substances since in the long run as one ages, one may acquire these risk factors. Consult your physician for cholesterol testing, drug intervention, and lifestyle changes.
431285
Recent studies have shown that reducing cholesterol to ultra-low levels with statin drugs can begin to reverse hardening of the arteries.\nOther than that, do not smoke, make sure your blood pressure is under control  and keep your cholesterol down via statins.\nIf diabetic, keep that under control also.
407654
Not really.  There are medications you can take for reducing your cholesterol.  Also watching the type of food you eat and getting more exercise can reduce high cholesterol levels.  There are plenty of web sites that will give you advice.\n\nHere is just one of them....\n\nhttp://heart.healthcentersonline.com/cholesterol/?WT.srch=1\n\nIf you do a Google search you will find plenty more.
1084769
You will find a really complete guide to doing this at AHA.org, which is the American Heart Association's website.\n\nI advise my patients to follow a low fat, high fiber diet and to exercise regularly.  Stop smoking as this does affect cholesterol levels.\n\nLean red meat is okay a couple of times per week.  When eating chicken, get rid of the skin.  Low fat dairy is okay in moderation.  Avoid fried foods and bake as much as possible.  Avoid trans fats, which are very common in fried and store bought bakery items.  Lots of fruits and veggies are great.  High fiber breakfast cereals will help, including oatmeal, raisin bran, fiber one, all bran.
427583
what for?  cholesterol control is necessary to lessen long-term risk of cardiovascular disease.  normalizing cholesterol from 236 in one month compared to 3 or 6 makes no significant difference, probably unless you are already a very high risk patient (recent heart attack or stroke) in which case you should be very aggressive in lipid control.
480116
Some of the Harmful effects smoking can cause are:\n\n1.straining on your heart and blood vessels.\n\nThe mixture of nicotine and carbon monoxide in each cigarette you smoke temporarily increases your heart rate and blood pressure, straining your heart and blood vessels.\n\n2. heart attacks and stroke.\n\n It slows your blood flow, cutting off oxygen to your feet and hands. Some smokers even end up having their limbs \namputated because of this.\n\n3. causes cancer.\n\nTar coats your lungs like soot in a chimney.A 20-a-day smoker breathes in up to a full cup (210 g) of tar in a year.\n\n4. Emphysema.\n\nEmphysema is an illness that slowly rots your lungs away. Most People with emphysema often get bronchitis again and again, and suffer lung and heart failure.\n\n5. Lung cancer.\n\nLung cancer is caused by the tar in the tobacco smoke. Men who smoke are ten times more likely to die from lung cancer than non-smokers.\n\n6. block blood vessels.\n\nSmoking causes fat deposits to narrow which is why blood vessels become blocked which leads to heart attack.\n\nI could go on and on but i am sure you want an answer today \n1-6 are the most common effects of smoking. Their are so many, You take a big risk with your health when you start to smoke. I hope i answed your ? to your liking.
627382
not good. the nicotine affects ur liver and respiratory system in the long run
201964
Yes and no. Smoking don't have direct affect on your metabolism. BUT, smoking can make you forget (for a moment) about eating or craving snack if you're on stress or have nothing to do. For example, if you're exploring this Yahoo answer for 2 hours and smoking all the time, you don't have any calorie intake. Imagine if in the same 2 hours you get 2 cans of soda, big french fries, a bar of chocolate, and so on. Get what I mean?
886231
well, your lungs because when you walk,runplay basketball, play tennis or even golf. smoking effects your lungs and slows you down in any physical activity
410042
don't smoke, don't do drugs, don't drink alcohol, drink alot of water, use daily vitamines, don't eat food that contains high level of cholestrol, eat alot of fruits, don't get exposed to sun, maintain a healthy diet...
460610
Tobacco smoke contributes to a number of  cancers.\n\nThe mixture of nicotine and carbon monoxide in each cigarette you smoke temporarily increases your heart rate and blood pressure, straining your heart and blood vessels. \n\nThis can cause heart attacks and stroke. It slows your blood flow, cutting off oxygen to your feet and hands. Some smokers end up having their limbs \namputated.\n\nTar coats your lungs like soot in a chimney and causes cancer. A 20-a-day smoker breathes in up to a full cup (210 g) of tar in a year.\n\nChanging to low-tar cigarettes does not help because smokers usually take deeper puffs and hold the smoke in for longer, dragging the tar deeper into their lungs.\n\nCarbon monoxide robs your muscles, brain and body tissue of oxygen, making your whole body and especially your heart  work harder. Over time, your airways swell up and let less air into your lungs.\n\nSmoking causes disease and is a slow way to die. The strain put on your body by smoking often causes years of suffering. Emphysema is an illness that slowly rots your lungs. People with emphysema often get bronchitis again and again, and suffer lung and heart failure.\n\nLung cancer from smoking  is caused by the tar in tobacco smoke. Men who smoke are ten times more likely to die from lung cancer than non-smokers.\n\nHeart disease and strokes are also more common among smokers than non-smokers. \n\nSmoking causes fat deposits to narrow and block blood vessels which leads to heart attack. \n\nSmoking causes around one in five deaths from heart disease. \n\nIn younger people, three out of four deaths from heart disease are due to smoking.
678616
Definitely. Bad cholesterol creates plaque in your arteries and causes your blood pressure to raise and also leads to heart attacks.
321629
That would be Excercise, it can do both. Smoking won't help you loose weight, and it won't affect your period. It will ruin your lungs, put you at risk of cancer, stain your teeth, give you wrinkles, age your skin, put an unborn child at risk, make your clothes, car and  house smell bad,and many other unpleasant and dangerous things. Stop the cigs and do more excercise, your life will be much better.
612919
of course it is.it causes lung cancer,heart disease,bronchitis,emphysema.trust me cos it's all in my bio. book. smoking contains tar,nicotine & carbon monoxide which contribute to all of these diseases at some point.cheers!
291890
A smoker has increased risk of respiratory and vascular complications. Smoking actually creates a tar substance in the lungs and decreases the persons capacity to take in oxygen. Also smokers veins and arteries are constricted from chemicals in the cigarettes. This puts them at a higher risk for blood clot causing stroke.
1020678
because they lower cholesterol levels