What are the risks of tobacco use?
Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the United States. Smoking and smokeless tobacco use increases the risk of all-cause mortality and is a cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD), acute myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke. Secondhand smoke is a cause of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and stroke, and almost one-third of coronary heart disease (CHD) deaths are attributable to smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke. Even low levels of smoking increase risks of acute MI; thus, reducing the number of cigarettes per day does not totally eliminate risk. Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), often called e-cigarettes, are a new class of tobacco product that emit aerosol containing fine and ultrafine particulates, nicotine, and toxic gases that may increase risk of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. Arrhythmias and hypertension with e-cigarette use have also been reported. Chronic use is associated with persistent increases in oxidative stress and sympathetic stimulation in young, healthy subjects. 