[header] How to maintain a healthy heart [title] Stop all forms of tobacco use. [step] Using tobacco increases your risk of heart damage. Both tobacco and nicotine contain many chemicals that cause harm to your blood vessels and heart, and this results in atherosclerosis, which is a plaque build-up of cholesterol, fat, and calcium in your vessels that can cause your arteries to narrow, decreasing blood flow. 
[substeps] The carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke has also been linked to mortality and morbidity. It interferes with oxygen, so your heart is pressured into supplying additional oxygen to compensate.