Medicus, Vol. 34. No. 1. KRM zdravlje, 2025.
Pregledni rad
Smoking and Cardio-Renal-Metabolic Health
Josipa Josipović
Katja Jankov
Vladimir Prelević
Iva Ivanko
Nikola Bulj
Ana Jelaković
Sažetak
Introduction: Smoking is the leading preventable risk factor for the development and progression of cardio-renal-metabolic diseases.
Objective: To present the effects of smoking on cardio-renal-metabolic health, give details on its detrimental pathophysiological mechanisms, and describe the potential benefits of quitting smoking and reducing harmful effects.
Methods: Review and synthesis of the latest scientific literature and public health resources with emphasis on pathophysiology, clinical outcomes, and preventive strategies.
Results: Smoking contributes to oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and hypercoagulability, which significantly increases the risk of heart attack and stroke, chronic kidney disease and metabolic syndrome. Second-hand exposure also carries risks, especially for children. Quitting smoking significantly reduces cardiovascular and renal complications. Alternative products such as e-cigarettes (vapes) and heated tobacco may be potentially less-harmful choices, although their long-term effects still require further evaluation. These novelties also carry the risk of generating new smokers, especially among young people, thus stricter control is necessary. At any rate, they reduce second-hand exposure to cigarette smoke.
Conclusion: Smoking has a seriously damaging effect on cardio-renal-metabolic health with its numerous interrelated mechanisms. Complete termination of smoking is the only and main goal. It is essential to start widespread and continuous addiction treatment programs. A strategy to reduce harmful effects can be considered separately but must take place under strict supervision. Apart from heavy fines for selling e-cigarettes to young people, governments should ban their use in closed spaces just as it does for standard cigarettes. Public health education is key to the prevention and treatment of smoking.
Ključne riječi
Hrčak ID:
338531
URI
Datum izdavanja:
27.10.2025.
Posjeta: 93 *