4 Ways Smoking Damages Your Circulatory System

• Part 1: Poor Circulation Causes Lethargy and Sluggishness
• Part 2: 5 Ways to Improve Blood Circulation
• Part 4: 9 Poor Leg Circulation Remedies

While there are many life choices and conditions that poorly impact your circulatory system , smoking is by far one of the worst. It damages your circulation and your blood in every regard. Even being a “social smoker” dramatically affects your circulation. Many people rationalize smoking on the weekends when they are out at a bar drinking with their friends but this can be deadly. If you have quit don’t go back, and if you have not quit, there is no better time like the present. Below are 6 ways smoking damages your circulatory system.

1.Reduced Blood Flow

Smoking slows the blood flow through your circulatory system, especially to your extremities like your fingers and toes. Smoking constricts the blood vessels and increases your blood pressure. This makes it more difficult for oxygen and nutrient rich blood to reach your entire body. In fact you are increasing the amount of toxins that get to your vital organs as well.

2.Increased Heart Rate

While smoking reduces the flow of blood it raises your heart rate. Essentially your heart is working to get blood throughout your body. This in turn raises your blood pressure and can even cause heart palpitations. It can increase as much as 30% in the first ten minutes of smoking. Now add up your cigarettes and do the math.

3.Poisonous Chemicals In Your Blood

Nicotine isn’t the only toxic chemical found in cigarette smoke. There is also cyanide, formaldehyde, ammonia, carbon monoxide and hundreds of other deadly substances. These chemicals take the place of oxygen. Many of these speed up your heart and constrict your blood vessels and aids in the buildup of cholesterol and fat in your arteries. Smoking literally poisons your blood.

4.Blood Clots

Since smoking hardens and narrows you arteries and while making your blood thicker which in turn makes blood clots much more likely. Serious blood clots like coronary thrombosis or cerebral thrombosis can block your arteries and lead to a deadly heart attack or stroke. Cardiovascular disease will certainly damage your circulatory system like no other condition.

These 4 topics listed above are large general topics. Each of them has their own implications on the circulatory system. All the diseases from heart disease, to stroke and cancer can all be traced back to your blood. Your blood feeds your body and when you ingest toxic chemicals and carcinogens you are putting you health and your life in serious risk. Don’t rationalize even one cigarette. Remember that after 20 minutes your heart rate and blood pressure drop, in 12 hours your carbon monoxide are back to normal and in 2 or 3 months your circulation improves. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose but addiction. I know it is easier said than done but your health is worth it.

For more information about poor circulation your click here.

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.