Yes, smoking cigarettes can cause a heart attack. Tobacco smoke damages the lining of your arteries, triggers dangerous blood clots, and reduces the oxygen your heart muscle receives. These changes dramatically raise your risk of having a heart attack at any age.
If you’re experiencing chest discomfort, shortness of breath, unusual fatigue, or pain radiating to your jaw, neck, or arm, seek emergency care immediately. Women often experience subtler warning signs than the classic crushing chest pain, so trust your instincts. Every minute matters when heart muscle is at stake.
The encouraging truth: your heart begins to …