Cigarette smoking and cardiovascular diseases.

That cigarette smoking is causally associated with development of cardiovascular disease is recognized unequivocally. Epidemiological studies worldwide have documented the many pathways of influence and synergism by which this ubiquitous but artificial habit exerts its ill effects on cardiorespiratory and other body systems, leading not only to cardiovascular disease but to cancer and other ailments. Current investigations among college alumni, women, elderly, and other subgroups provide data on how various independent influences combine with smoking to establish risk and promote pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. Their findings also confirm that cigarette smoking is one of the strongest instigators. All of this knowledge has implications for the design and implementation of effective intervention programmes.