Clogged arteries are a major cause of heart attack and stroke. And when it occurs, it tends to be more severe in smokers. Along with cigarette smoking, high blood cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart and blood vessel disease. In other words, people who smoke and have high cholesterol levels have a higher risk of CVD than the sum of each risk factor by itself. Smoking and Peripheral Vascular Disease Peripheral vascular disease is the narrowing of blood vessels that carry blood to the leg and arm muscles.
Smoking is a major risk factor of peripheral vascular disease.
Smokers get this disease more often and more severely than nonsmokers. Most people with this disease who later develop a blockage are smokers. The good news is that people who stop smoking can often reduce the severity of peripheral vascular disease. And in cases where surgery is needed, it's more likely to be successful in people who've stopped smoking. Diabetes is another major risk factor for peripheral vascular disease.