Smoking is bad. You know this, I know this, the entire world knows this. And yet, each year over seven million people die as a result of their smoking habit.
Smoking is bad for all areas of health. This article will highlight the specific dangers that smoking has on your vascular system, which includes your veins and arteries.
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Your veins are responsible for returning blood to your heart so it can be re-oxygenated and filtered. Your arteries are the highway that your blood travels to leave the heart and fuel the body with blood.
First off, smoking can cause arteries to become stiffer and narrow, which makes it difficult for blood to pass through them smoothly. Furthermore, if arteries aren’t flexible, this increases blood pressure and damage to the arteries, which can contribute to other problems. Additionally, harder and narrow arteries increase the risk of blood clots, which can become deadly if they dislodge and travel to the lungs or brain.
The chemicals found in cigarette smoke can thicken blood and reduce oxygen in the blood.
Now picture this: thick blood trying to travel through narrow, hardened arteries. It basically spells out a medical crisis.
Another bad aspect of smoking is that it can cause the appearance of varicose veins. You know those blue veins that are visible on your legs? Although varicose veins can occur for several different reasons, smoking can expedite their appearance. Severe varicose veins can increase the risk of a blood clot, which, as mentioned, can be deadly. Blood clots can occur in non-smokers, but the risk of them is 50 percent higher in smokers.
Your body requires oxygenated blood to function properly, and with all the negative effects smoking has on your vascular system, it’s not worth it to harm your veins and arteries with such a deadly habit. To best protect your vascular system along with improving your overall health, it’s highly important to quit smoking.
Although quitting such an addicting habit can be difficult, there are support systems available to help you achieve your goal. Speak to your doctor about effective smoking cessation methods and options available to make you successful in quitting smoking and living a healthier life.
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