Smoking can permanently damage your heart and blood vessels and cause plaque to build up in the arteries. Plaque is a waxy substance consisting of cholesterol, calcium, fat, scar tissue, and other substances.
This plaque built-up narrows the arteries and decreases the blood flow to the heart which may cause chest pain (angina), shortness of breath, or other cardiovascular disease (CVD) signs and symptoms. A complete blockage can lead to heart attack and death.
Cigarette smoke can also change the blood chemistry resulting in cardiovascular diseases. That's why it is very important to avoid smoking completely. If you smoke, you should stop immediately.