Did you know, cardiovascular disease is one of the most common causes of death in the United States that kills 8 million people (about half the population of New York) in a year? The most common cause of CVD (cardiovascular diseases) is smoking which is the reason for approximately 1 out of 4 deaths from CVD. While you may enjoy smoking, its effects on the body are more severe than you ever thought. Even people who smoke less than 5 cigarettes a day may have early signs of CVD. And if you use secondhand smoke then it may increase your risk of heart attacks and strokes. So, you need to quit smoking right now before it’s too late. Learn how smoking affects your vascular system and how you can quit smoking in this article. Get a consultation with the best cardiologists in Brooklyn.

 

How does smoking affect your vascular health?

Smoking can affect your vascular health in several harmful ways such as:

  • Cigarettes contain chemicals including nicotine and carbon monoxide which affect your veins and heart functions. When you smoke, nicotine constricts your blood vessels which reduces blood flow to your organs and monoxide reduces the amount of oxygen in your blood, which causes a double burden on your heart.
  • These chemicals also damage the arterial walls, which increase the risk of fatty deposits buildup (called plaques), which can either narrow or block the blood vessels making it difficult for the heart to pump blood through them.
  • Lastly, smoking also raises the level of bad cholesterol in your blood which reduces the amount of good cholesterol and increases the risk of forming clots and blockages by making blood thicker than normal and sluggish. Over time it leads to heart attacks and strokes.

Over time these effects on the blood vessel system can lead to vascular disease. The most common vascular diseases that may be caused by smoking are:

  • Heart attacks
  • Abdominal aortic aneurysms
  • Strokes
  • Coronary artery disease (CAD)
  • Peripheral artery disease (PAD)

 

Smoking may also be linked with nearly every form of cancer, including blood cancers, liver, stomach, pancreas, kidney, colon, etc. Additionally, it also affects fertility in men and women, healthy pregnancies, bones, teeth, and eyes health, and may contribute to inflammation and lower immune system functionality.

 

That’s why smoking is considered bad for your health because it increases the risk of a severe condition that is life-threatening.

 

Smoking can increase the risk of many severe vascular diseases such as coronary artery disease (CAD), Peripheral artery disease (PAD), heart attack, stroke, and many forms of cancer as well. It even damages your immune system and several parts of your body such as bones, eyes, and teeth. So, quitting becomes necessary.

 

Quitting starts giving benefits within a day, and over a prolonged period, you may become healthy as a non-smoker. So, follow the above-mentioned tips for quitting smoking in your life and improve your health.

 

Need help to quit smoking habits, call our specialist today to get the first free session for smoking cessation online. To permanently quit your smoking, visit our clinic and medical and support help you need to improve your health. For any vascular problems, call us on +1(347) 384-5690. The Cardiologists at Doral Health & Wellness consistently have outstanding patient satisfaction ratings. The professionals at Heart Specialist Brooklyn are able to greatly improve their patient’s health and quality of life because of their vast training and experience. New Yorkers can get the greatest medical, surgical, and cardiovascular care at Doral Health & Wellness Brooklyn. Visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212.