4 Scary Causes and Effects of Smoking-Related Vascular Disease

It’s the largest preventable cause of death and disease in the United States, with more than 480,000 Americans fatally succumbing to its effects each year. An estimated 42 million U.S. adults still do it, racking up a $170 billion yearly medical bill across the nation. It fosters bone decay, impotency, and more than 100 different types of cancer.

Please – put the cigarette down.

We believe knowledge is power. In honor of the American Cancer’s Society’s annual Great American Smokeout, we want to expose the cause-and-effect of smoking-related vascular disease. Consider how it snowballs:

• The block… Smoking narrows blood vessels to the point that they’re blocked. Fatty deposits in the vessels build up and build up (called “arteriosclerosis”) until blood struggles to flow through as normal. As flow is choked, your body loses circulation of blood that carries the oxygen and nutrients it needs to thrive.
• …might cause gangrene… Without oxygen, your body starves. And when it starves, it dies. As skin, muscle, and sinew dies, it turns black and becomes impossible for future blood flow, even if surrounding vessels eventually reopen in the absence of cigarette use.
• …that leads to amputation… Decaying skin can no longer receive blood that carries antibodies that fight infection. Tissue is then susceptible to bacteria, which can attack surrounding areas. To prevent further spread of this crippling disease to remaining healthy tissues, amputation may be the answer. Extremities – parts ranging from toes and fingers to portions of feet to entire lengths of legs – may be removed, depending on severity and response time to the spread of disease.
• …which worsens for diabetics. For those with diabetes, the risk of contracting vascular disease and other smoking-related complications that lead to amputation is three times higher than for those without. The chemicals and crud that cigarettes pump into your body may weaken its ability to respond to insulin. If your blood sugar goes unchecked, you’re at increased risk for diabetic complications in your heart, kidneys and blood vessels.

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