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.