Smoking is the principal cause for arteriosclerosis and hardened arteries and can cause thrombosis in the brain and heart. ... Coronary and cerebral thrombosis are the most common causes of sudden death. ... About 1/3 of all coronary thrombosis are due to smoking. ... Heart Patients Have Everything to Gain Cardiovascular disease such as coronary thrombosis and stroke claims around 432,000 lives a year in the UK alone. ... This is because all four factors dramatically increase the risk of hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis). ...