Smoking damages blood vessels. Smokers are more likely to have damaged blood vessels that supply the heart, leading to myocardial infarctions (heart attack). Smokers are more likely to have damaged blood vessels that supply the brain, leading to cerebral vascular accidents (strokes). While the body tries very hard to heal itself, the damage does not entirely go away and persists for years after smoking cessation.
A study published in Annals of Internal Medicine indicates that smoking increased the risk for peripheral artery disease (PAD) in women in a dose dependent manner. Peripheral artery disease is pain in the legs (calves) with walking due to an inadequate blood supply caused by narrowed arteries. Rest relieves that pain, since muscles at rest need less oxygen-rich blood than muscles at work. The greater the number of cigarettes smoked over a lifetime, the greater the risk of PAD. The risk greatly increased after ten pack-years. (A pack year is one pack of cigarettes daily for one year; ½ pack daily for two years, 2 packs daily for ½ year, etc.)
It’s still important to stop smoking, but it’s even better to never start. Long-term smoking cessation will reduce the risk of PAD, but the never-smoker is in a far better position.
Ann Intern Med June 7, 2011 154:719-726
No comments:
Post a Comment