The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of smoking, verified by the measurement of cotinine levels, on life satisfaction of patients with coronary artery disease. The questionnaire was answered by 36 patients (26 men and 10 women) aged from 48 to 7.6 (mean 63.5) years. The questions regarded the current attitude toward smoking, subjective self-assessment of health and life satisfaction while smoking and after cessation. Cantril's ladder has been used among others to assess life satisfaction. In order to verify the answers regarding current smoking cotinine (nicotine metabolite) serum, urine and saliva levels have been measured. There were 38.8% of current smokers in the studied group of patients after PTCA. The fact of current smoking was negated by 19.4% of smokers during medical exam. Objective verification of smoking is necessary in questionnaire studies on tobacco consumption. Measurement of cotinine in body fluids (serum, urine, saliva) may be useful in these cases. After cessation of smoking 93.9% respondents reported major subjective improvement in self-assessment of health. 54.5% of smokers admitted having been ashamed of the habit, and 60.6% the feeling of disturbing others while smoking. The increase of general life satisfaction measured by Cantril's ladder was observed in 94.7% of responders after cessation of smoking.