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How Smoking Affects Your Vascular Health? Discover the Risks of AAA, PAD, and Stroke

Vascular diseases are often caused by smoking, and the effects of smoking can also reach your heart and arteries. Smoking is one of the leading causes of vascular diseases, and its harmful effects can extend to various parts of your body.

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Gaining knowledge about how smoking affects your blood vessels is important for making plans to prevent serious health problems.

The Connection Between Smoking and AAA, as well as Other Potential Vascular Problems

  • An Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) is a particular condition:

Smoking greatly raises the chances of getting an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), which is deadly if the aneurysm bursts. Smokers are much more likely to form an AAA than people who do not smoke. 

The chemicals inside cigarette smoke, through inhalation, may weaken blood vessel walls, which makes it easier for bulges to form on their walls and increases the chance of them bursting.

  • Smoking and Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD):

Widespread smoking causes PAD, which occurs when the arteries in the extremities become narrowed thanks to plaque accumulation. 

Blood flow to the limbs becomes limited, which could bring about pain, stiffness in your joints, and the most critical cases, the need to remove a body part using amputation. 

Smoking increases your risk, and it plays a role in causing PAD in about half of the cases.

  • The Connection between Smoking, Carotid Artery Disease, and Stroke Risk

     

Smoking can also damage the carotid arteries, which are responsible for the blood supply to your brain. 

Smoking leads to more plaque in your arteries, which may get stuck and increase your chance of suffering a stroke. If you smoke often, you are likely to suffer from a stroke or other serious conditions involving your blood vessels.

The Impact of Quitting Smoking on Your Vascular Health

vascular surgeon in Houston
vascular surgeon in Houston

Even if smoking is a part of your lifestyle, your chances of developing AAA and PAD can be lessened if you give up now. Immediately after you quit smoking, your body starts to heal, which helps your blood vessels and benefits your life.

For good vascular health, speak with a doctor and arrange your consultation now.

People who smoke should be sure to keep up with regular vascular health screening. If vascular diseases such as AAA and PAD are found early, it can help you avoid worse effects and choose the most effective treatments.

At our clinic, we focus on detecting and treating problems in the blood vessels linked to smoking. The team at our center performs detailed procedures to address the damage from smoking, making sure your vascular health stays protected.

Make sure you act in time. Today, it is important to schedule a consultation to start taking better care of your vascular system.

Contact us to schedule an appointment and prioritize your vascular health today.