Peripheral artery disease, or PAD, is a condition that narrows the blood vessels in your arms or legs. Most people are unaware that smoking plays a huge role in this disease. Several studies have shown that smoking, which causes stiffness and clogs in arteries, prevents blood from flowing freely.
With less blood flow, your muscles and tissues get less oxygen. In time, this can cause pain, and lead to slow healing of wounds, or even gangrene. One of the reasons PAD has the reputation for being a fairly silent disease is that its early symptoms often seem mild, such as leg cramps or numbness upon walking.
But the wake-up call is that smokers are four times more likely to develop PAD than nonsmokers, making it one of the most hazardous habits to your vascular health.
Why Smoking Worsens PAD
Smoking subjects your blood to chemicals such as nicotine and carbon monoxide. These toxins weaken the walls of your arteries and cause them to lose their flexibility. As their walls thicken, plaque builds up at an accelerating rate, thereby restricting blood flow even more.
Added to PAD, smoking accelerates the disease’s course. Most smokers with PAD tend to show more aggravated symptoms much earlier in their life course, such as severe pain while walking or even at rest.
The benefits of quitting smoking, aside from just merely stopping further damage, include the improvement of blood flow and a reduced risk of complications. Your body actually starts to heal itself within weeks of quitting.
How PAD Impacts Your Everyday Life
PAD is not just a problem in either the legs or the arms; it can upend your life in major ways. Activities such as walking to the store or merely climbing the stairs may become painful. Over time, some people with PAD even develop ulcers or open sores that will not heal.
What’s worse, untreated PAD increases your risk of heart attack and stroke. This is because the same blockages in your legs can also appear in your heart or brain.
This is a double whammy for smokers because the damage caused by smoking also puts added stress on your heart and increases the chances of a stroke. The risk involved is much greater than most people perceive.
Washington Vascular Specialists Can Help
The good news is that help is available. At Washington Vascular Specialists we are experienced in diagnosing and treating PAD. We offer advanced treatments ranging from non-invasive tests to specialized procedures that restore blood flow.
The sooner you act, the better the chance of saving your limbs-and possibly even your life. If you smoke and regularly feel pain or numbness in your legs, it’s time to get checked. Symptoms won’t go away if you ignore them.
Why You Should Act Now
PAD doesn’t wait, and neither should you. The sooner it is caught, the better the prognosis. Indeed, most smokers with PAD who seek early treatment avoid the worst complications such as those requiring surgery or amputation.
At Washington Vascular Specialists, our focus is on prevention and effective treatment. By using the most modern tools available, we evaluate your condition and develop an individualized plan that improves your vascular health.
PAD doesn’t have to define your life. With the right help, you can reduce the damage and get back to enjoying your daily activities. Smoking may have put you at risk, but it’s never too late to make a change. Contact us to learn more!
