Smoking and Peripheral Arterial Disease

Did you know that smoking is the single most important cause of peripheral arterial disease (PAD)? The risk for developing PAD is as much as three times higher for smokers as that of nonsmokers. Tobacco use of any kind (even low-nicotine cigarettes, cigars or pipes) escalates PAD. Half a pack of cigarettes per day can increase the risk by 30 – 50%!

Tobacco use causes atherosclerosis, the principal cause of PAD. Atherosclerosis refers to the development of plaque in the wall of an artery that leads to blockages and reduction in blood flow to the leg. Atherosclerosis also affects other blood vessels, particularly those that supply the heart and brain.

There are over 3,000 chemicals found in tobacco smoke. Some of the chemicals are nicotine, ammonia (used in cleaning fluids), arsenic (used in poisons), carbon monoxide (car exhaust), formaldehyde (embalming fluid) and hydrogen cyanide (used in rat poison). Patients diagnosed with PAD who continue to smoke are jeopardizing their recovery efforts. PAD patients face as much as 5 to 15% higher risk of death by heart attack and stroke if they continue to smoke.

Fortunately, smoking cessation has its rewards and significantly helps in treatment results. Surgical treatment to remove built up plaque will be much more successful in the non-smoker. Walking programs to treat intermittent claudication are also more successful in the non-smoker and, the risk for developing coronary artery disease also rapidly decreases once a smoker quits.

If you have been diagnosed with PAD and still smoke, we strongly urge you to speak with your physician about the best stopping method for you. Some tips and resources for quitting are recommended on the following pages.