Under the expert guidance of our Board Certified Vascular Surgeon, Dr. Mark Zuzga, our team of Vein Specialists & Vascular Experts are committed to delivering top-tier outpatient vascular & vein evaluation and treatment throughout the greater Tampa & West Florida surrounding areas. Should you find yourself dealing with leg pain, swelling, ulcers, discoloration, or the appearance of spider and varicose veins, we invite you to request a screening todayThe Effect of Smoking on Vein Health
Smoking has detrimental effects on the entire body, from the lungs to the brain, down to a cellular level, but you may never have considered that smoking can wreak havoc on your vascular health.
Vein damage caused by smoking cigarettes can present itself in the form of varicose veins and spider veins. While varicose veins and spider veins can be visually unappealing as well as causing discomfort the real problem is the potential for life-threatening venous disease to occur. By far the most serious complication that can arise stemming from damaged veins is deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a condition that occurs when a blood clot forms within the body’s deeper vein system.
DVT, a serious condition. Among other issues, it can lead to a pulmonary embolism which is often life-threatening. A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot caused by DVT breaks free and travels through the bloodstream becoming embedded in the lungs. This blocks blood flow which can result in death. Because smokers are 50% more likely to develop DVT than are non-smokers, it’s easy to see the correlation between the two. On top of pulmonary embolism, there is also the risk of stroke if the clot travels to the brain and heart attack if it makes its way to the heart muscle.
It isn’t the tobacco itself that is the danger. Were cigarettes made purely of organic tobacco, while still not a healthful habit, the risks would be lowered significantly.
Cigarette manufacturers add toxic chemicals to their list of ingredients for a variety of reasons – from keeping the cigarette from burning too fast to those chemicals that just flat out get you addicted in order to sell more product in the future.
Nicotine causes the arteries to narrow and harden, greatly increasing the risk for the formation of new blood clots. Various other chemicals in cigarettes thicken the blood and reduce oxygen flow, slowing the blood flow. Thicker slower blood leads to clotting, pure and simple.
The Cure
Don’t start smoking and if you smoke, quit.
Damage done by smoking is not completely irreversible. Quitting can greatly lessen the risk of venous disease. It can also reduce your chance of smoking-related cancers and heart disease.
Dr. Zuzga of West Florida Vein Center in the Tampa, Florida area can help no matter what stage of vein health you are currently experiencing. Many vein conditions are easily treatable using minimally invasive techniques and procedures, with many patients reporting little to no pain as well as almost immediate relief of their symptoms.
Contact our staff today to learn about the many options available to you and to schedule an appointment at our state of the art Tampa vein center.
The West Florida Vein Center (727) 712-3233 www.westlforidaveincenter.com