True or False: Smoking can damage the heart and increase the risk for heart disease.

Smoking is indeed harmful to the heart and significantly increases the risk of developing heart disease. This is because the chemicals found in tobacco can lead to the buildup of plaque in the arteries, causing a condition known as atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis narrows the arteries and restricts blood flow, which can result in high blood pressure, heart attacks, and other cardiovascular issues.

Moreover, smoking not only affects the smokers themselves but also poses risks to non-smokers through secondhand smoke, thereby broadening the impact beyond just heavy smokers or adults. This illustrates that the detrimental effects of smoking on heart health are applicable to a wide range of individuals, not limited by smoking frequency or age. Hence, the assertion that smoking damages the heart and increases the risk of heart disease is accurate, validating the selection of “True” as the answer.