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Smoking is a Major Risk Factor for Vascular Disease

The impact of smoking on cancer has been widely promoted, but its relationship to vascular disease is less known by the public. Veins and arteries make up the vascular system that carry life giving, oxygen-rich blood to all your vital organs, the brain, and legs and arms. Smoking causes sticky plague in veins and arteries and is a major risk factor in developing vascular diseases like carotid artery disease, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), and peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Smoking is the single most powerful risk factor for vascular disease and people who smoke put themselves at risk. Vascular surgeons have found that people who smoke, or who have smoked, are more likely to develop diseases of their arteries and veins than those who do not. It affects not only the heart, but also damages the circulation all over the body.

While quitting smoking is not easy, it can be done and it is the most important thing people can do to prevent strokes, prevent aneurysms, save limbs, and save their lives.

The Vascular Disease Foundation offers the following guidelines to quit smoking:

• Establish a date to quit and get rid of all cigarettes and ashtrays. Get the smoke smell out
  of your clothes, car, and workplace.
• Ask for support from friends and family. Discuss taking medicine with your primary care physician.
• Get counseling. Studies show that people who receive counseling in a group or individually
  are more successful quitting.
• Change your routine. Things like taking a different route to work; drinking tea instead of
  coffee, and eating your meals in a different seat can help form new behaviors.
• Drink a lot of water.
• Prepare for tough times and temptations. Avoid situations where you might drink alcohol.
• Eat a healthy diet and focus on quitting smoking instead of gaining a few extra pounds.
• Stay away from places where people are smoking so you will not be tempted.

The devastating results of the following three vascular diseases will help you understand the
importance of maintaining good vascular health.

Carotid Artery Disease (CAD)

Carotid artery disease involves the carotid arteries that carry blood from the heart up through the neck into the brain. The combination of weakened vessels from plaque build-up from fat and cholesterol, and the damage caused from smoking, causes the passages to become narrow resulting in carotid artery disease. Strokes are caused by carotid artery disease.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)

AAA is a disease of the aorta, the largest artery in the body that is responsible for delivering blood to legs, GI tract, and kidney. An AAA occurs when the wall of the aorta progressively weakens and begins to budge. An AAA may continue to enlarge and eventually rupture if left untreated. A ruptured AAA is deadly; most people with ruptured AAAs do not make it to the hospital.

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)

PAD results when the arteries in the legs become narrow or obstructed with fat and cholesterol, and limit the flow of blood to the legs. In the severest cases, it can be necessary to perform an amputation.  Among other risk factors for PAD, smoking contributes to this disease.

Each of these diseases can be diagnosed early with a noninvasive ultrasound screening. With early detection patients can be successfully treated to control their disease with lifestyle changes, medications, minimally invasive angioplasty/stenting, or open bypass surgery.