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The Effects of Smoking on Vascular Disease

Smoking can cause and exacerbate numerous types of vascular disease. It can harden blood vessels, restrict the proper blood flow to the limbs and cause dangerous aneurysms and peripheral artery disease. If you are concerned about your vascular system, talk to your doctor about the benefits of ceasing your nicotine habit.

  1. What is Vascular Disease?

    • According to the Cleveland Clinic, vascular disease is any condition that affects the circulatory system. This system carries blood to and away from your heart using a system of arteries and veins.

    Smoking and the Arteries

    • Long-term smokers are likely to have clogged arteries. Smoking damages the arterial walls and causes the arteries to tighten up, according to the American Council on Science and Health. This tightening of the arteries, known as arthrosclerosis, puts the smoker at a higher risk of stroke and heart attack.

    Smoking and the Limbs

    • According to the Society of Interventional Radiology, smoking also van cause damage to the limbs by reducing proper blood flow to the area. Arteries in the leg may be clogged by the effects of smoking, and the leg muscles may not get adequate blood supply. This is a painful condition and may lead to limb amputation if the blood supply issues are not addressed.

    Smoking and Peripheral Artery Disease

    • Peripheral artery disease is a disorder that affects the blood vessels outside the heart and brain. Patients with this disorder have a higher risk of stroke or heart attack. According to the American Heart Association, smokers have a "particularly strong" risk of developing this disorder.

    Smoking and Aneurysms

    • A study published in the Journal of Neurosurgery also found that smoking can have a dangerous effect on aneurysms. Smokers were more likely to develop aneurysms than non-smokers, and these aneurysms were more likely to rupture. When these enlarged blood vessels rupture, internal bleeding can occur. This bleeding can be fatal.

    Talk to Your Doctor

    • If you have vascular disease and are concerned about smoking's effect on your disorder, be sure to talk to your doctor. He will be able to educate you on the dangers of smoking and help you devise a strategy to quit. He may be able to prescribe a medication that will help control your cravings for nicotine, or recommend things like nicotine gum to help you quit.

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