Smoking damages the heart more than previously thought

"Smoking is known to cause clogged arteries, leading to coronary heart disease and stroke," said study author Dr.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 8 million people die each year from tobacco

Research also shows that smoking is associated with a higher risk of heart failure, a condition in which the heart muscle can't pump blood through the body as well as it should, usually because it's too weak or stiff

The study used data from the Fifth Copenhagen Urban Heart Study, which investigated cardiovascular risk factors and disease in the general population

Participants underwent an ultrasound of the heart, called an echocardiogram, which can provide information about the structure and working of the heart

The average age of the participants was 56 years, and 43 percent were women

"Our study shows that smoking not only damages blood vessels, but also directly damages the heart," she concluded