How Does Smoking Contribute to Heart Disease?

Smoking is probably the biggest contributor to heart disease and death overall, in that about 20 percent of all deaths from either cancer or heart disease are attributable to smoking. The damage to the heart actually happens in the blood vessels, where it (cigarette smoke) irritates the inside of the vessels and can then allow cholesterol to get into the arteries. This could damage the arteries that can then go on to have a heart attack or a stroke.
so sad...