How Can Smoking Lead to Chest Pain?

Smoking puts harmful chemicals into your body that hurt your blood vessels. These chemicals can cause the inside of your arteries—the tubes that carry blood—to get damaged. When the arteries are injured, they can become narrow from plaque build-up. This narrowing makes it tough for enough oxygen to reach your heart, which can cause chest pain. This type of pain is often seen in heart diseases like angina or even a heart attack. Smoking also affects your lungs. It makes them work less effectively, which can cause you to cough or have trouble breathing. When you breathe hard or cough too much, it puts extra stress on your chest and heart, leading to discomfort. Over time, smoking increases the chance of serious heart and lung problems that can also cause chest pain. If you notice chest pain and you smoke, it’s important to seek immediate medical attention.