Smoking helps expedite the buildup of plaque in your heart and blood vessels which decreases blood flow and puts strain on your entire cardiovascular system. Continued buildup of this plaque can lead to Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), putting you at greater risk for a stroke, heart attacks, and coronary heart disease.
As healthcare providers, urging our patients to quit smoking is one of the most important things we can do. More so than any therapy or surgery, quitting smoking is the best recommendation we can give to stop the progression of CVD. Time to put those cigarettes down for good! No ifs, ands, or BUTTS!