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The cardiovascular burden of light smoking
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1
First Department of Cardiology, ‘Hippokration’ Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece
2
Cardiology Department, University Hospital of Heraklion, Athens, Greece
Submission date: 2021-01-02
Final revision date: 2021-02-20
Acceptance date: 2021-03-01
Publication date: 2021-04-12
Arch Med Sci Atheroscler Dis 2021;6(1):48-56
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ABSTRACT
The assumption that light cigarette smoking, meaning smoking one to five cigarettes per day, is not so harmful has been dissipated by several studies. Regardless of the quantity of tobacco cigarettes, smoking remains a leading risk factor for the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases. Smoke is a mixture of several toxic chemicals, such as nicotine, carbon monoxide, and oxidants, implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. Despite anti-smoking campaigns, a misconception concerning “safe smoking” still exists. The purpose of this literature review is to highlight the deleterious effect of light cigarette smoking and claim the consensus that there is no safe smoking.