Peripheral Artery Disease
Smoking Facts About Occlusive Atherosclerosis Disease

Peripheral artery disease can occur in either the legs or the arms. It is also called peripheral vascular disease and is one of the many diseases caused by smoking.

It results from the progression of hardening of the arteries or atherosclerosis disease.

In PAD there is a gradual reduction in blood flow to the legs (or arms) resulting in ischemia that can cause pain and skin necrosis. Sometimes amputation is needed.

Atherosclerosis disease or hardening of the arteries can be so severe that it blocks arterial blood flow. Coronary artery disease (or coronary atherosclerosis) refers to the same process of hardening of the arteries, occurring in the central blood vessels that supply the heart muscle.

When the occlusion of the artery affects the arms or the legs it is called peripheral artery disease. Other terms to describe this process are peripheral arterial occlusive disease and peripheral vascular disease.

Smokers have a particularly strong risk of PAD. Other risk factors include lack of exercise and diabetes. If you smoke, are inactive and have diabetes your risk for developing PAD is amplified many times.

Smoking Facts

• Smoking is the main risk factor for PAD.


• Smoking contributes to about 75% of all cases of PAD.


• Experts estimate that the risk of peripheral vascular disease may be as much as 16 times higher in smokers than in nonsmokers.


• If you have already been diagnosed with PAD, the risk of heart attack or stroke is estimated to be about 4 - 5 times greater than if you were a smoker without peripheral vascular disease.


• If the condition is not ameliorated and tissue ischemia persists, skin necrosis can result. Since necrosis is not a reversible condition sometimes the only option is amputation.

Quitting Smoking Facts about PAD

• quitting smoking slows down the progression of the disease.


• the longer the time period since your last cigarette the less chance you have of developing PAD.


• If you continue to smoke after diagnosis with PAD you have an 11 fold increase in the risk of losing a limb compared to non-smokers or those who discontinue cigarette smoking.₁

Some estimates suggest that 80-90% of peripheral artery disease cases will subside with proper treatment that must include:

• cessation of smoking
• improvement in the physical activity level.
• treatment of underlying comorbid conditions such as diabetes

Smoking Facts from the Experts

"Cigarette smoking is one of the most important risk factors for the development and progression of PAD and the cessation of smoking in addition to reducing the risk of myocardial infarction and death, also reduces the risk of progression to critical limb ischemia and limb loss."₁

"Cigarette smoking is the most powerful risk factor predisposing to atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease."₂

1. Teo, K.K. presentation at the Canadian Cardiovascular Society Consensus Conference (2005) Peripheral Artery Disease Consensus Document - Section 4


2. 2004 report of the US Surgeon General

---

Go back to Diseases Caused By Smoking - Facts About The Health Dangers of Smoking Cigarettes

Go home to Smoking Facts Reveal the Real Dangers of Smoking