Tag: arteries

Smoking weakens a gene that protects arteries: study

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — People who smoke cigarettes may boost their risk of clogged heart arteries by weakening a gene that is otherwise protective of these important blood vessels, United States researchers said Monday. The findings point to a genetic explanation for how smoking can lead to the plaque buildup that stiffens arteries and causes heart disease, said the report in the journal Circulation. “This has been one of the first big steps towards solving […]