Physical activity increases the oxygen
demands of the muscles, including the heart, at a time when the body
is being robbed of oxygen. To make things worse, nicotine’s stimulating
effect burdens the circulatory system by increasing the heart rate and
blood pressure. And still a few more facts:
• Nearly one-fifth of deaths from
cardiovascular diseases are attributable to smoking.
• Smokers double their risk of heart disease and significantly
increase their risk for strokes.
• Smoking is also linked to an increased incidence of aortic aneurysm,
a dangerous condition in which the aorta, the main artery taking blood
to the body, becomes weakened and bulges.
• In addition, when a peripheral artery such as one supplying
oxygen to the leg narrows or becomes blocked, leg cramping, numbness,
and even gangrene can occur. Smoking is not the only cause for arterial
disease but it is a major contributor and a preventable one.
• As the ability to deliver oxygen diminishes it is not surprising
that smokers have an increasingly difficult time being vigorously active.
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