Abstract
Cigarette smoking poses significant immediate and chronic health risks for all patients, but the risks are particularly worrisome in those who have underlying coronary artery disease (CAD). Myocardial ischemia is an immediate response to cigarette smoking due to a host of factors, including a rise in the serum carboxyhemoglobin level generated by smoking. Interestingly, an elevated carboxyhemoglobin level may be more relevant to the development of myocardial ischemia than the serum nicotine level. Case reports point to possible health risks related to the use of the nicotine patch in patients with CAD, but recent objective studies have found the nicotine patch to be a safe and reasonable therapeutic option for this patient group.
Original language | English (US) |
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Journal | Journal of Respiratory Diseases |
Volume | 19 |
Issue number | 8 SUPPL. |
State | Published - Dec 1 1998 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine