According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tobacco use is the leading cause of death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 443,000 people die prematurely due to smoking or secondhand smoke exposure each year. Another 8.6 million suffer from serious diseases caused by smoking.
Smoking can cause strokes, as well as cancer. Society for Vascular Surgery wishes people to understand that smoking has a significant impact on arteries. You can make a difference in your arterial health by quitting smoking.
Nicotine and carbon Monoxide are two of the biggest dangers from smoking cigarettes. Nicotine has addictive properties and can also affect the blood vessels throughout the body. Every cigarette increases the heart beat by around 20 beats per minutes. It raises blood pressure and acts as a vasoconstrictor. This means that the arteries around the body shrink, making it more difficult to pump blood through them.
How do Strokes Happen?
Smoking reduces blood flow to the brain and neck (carotids) through narrowed arteries. Blockage of the vessels in the brain can cause paralysis, stroke, and collapse. This is what happens when you have a stroke.
The brain cuts off circulation either by a blockage or a bloodclot. The cut section of the brain dies. Patients will be unable to speak if the brain controls speech. These abilities may be lost if the brain controls motor function. The patient could die abruptly if the affected brain section controlled life-sustaining functions.
Seek out a vascular specialist if you are diagnosed by your doctor with conditions that could lead to stroke. The only specialists today who are proficient in all vascular treatments are vascular surgeons. They have extensive training in all aspects of medical, surgical and endovascular therapies. Vascular surgeons are experts in diagnosing and treating vascular conditions.
Visit the Society for Vascular Surgery website to learn more about your vascular health, and to locate a vascular surgeon. www.VascularWeb.org.
