Are There Any Limitations With a Pacemaker?
You’re getting a pacemaker to regulate the rhythm of your heart, and you want to know whether you need to make any changes to accommodate the new addition. There are a few, which we review here.
The Link Between Smoking and Aortic Aneurysms
There are three main risk factors when it comes to heart disease, which is the number one cause of death in the United States: Smoking, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Though not a terribly common condition, an aortic aneurysm is an example of a cardiovascular disease that’s directly linked to smoking.
To shed some light on this connection, the team here at Advanced Cardiology Specialists is taking this opportunity to add another reason to what should be a long list of reasons to quit smoking.
Here’s a look at how aortic aneurysms and smoking are connected.
An aneurysm explained
Your aorta starts in the lower right ventricle of your heart and travels between your lungs and into your abdomen, ending at your pelvis. This blood vessel is the main conduit through which all oxygenated blood is delivered to your body.
If there’s a weak spot in the walls of your aorta, it’s called an aneurysm. These weak spots typically develop in your abdomen, but they can also occur in the thoracic region between your lungs.
Our primary concern with an aneurysm is a rupture, which, in most cases, is fatal. These ruptures are responsible for nearly 10,000 deaths each year in the US, 75% of whom have a history of smoking.
The link between smoking and an aneurysm by the numbers
Scores of studies back up the claim that smoking is a major risk factor for aortic aneurysms, and this isn’t recent. A study from almost 25 years ago, in 1999, found that smokers were three times more likely than nonsmokers to develop an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Older studies like these have been confirmed time and again as this meta-analysis found. Pulling together information from 23 different studies, the analysis confirmed, “A strong association between smoking and the risk of developing abdominal aortic aneurysms.”
How smoking can lead to aortic aneurysm
So, we understand, on a numbers level, that smoking is directly related to your odds for developing an aortic aneurysm, but why, exactly?
The primary issue is that the chemicals in cigarette smoke cause inflammation in the cells that line your blood vessels. This inflammation narrows the available space inside your blood vessels, placing you at far more risk for:
- Atherosclerosis
- Coronary artery disease
- Stroke
- Peripheral artery disease
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm
In plainer terms, any time cells and tissues are inflamed, they’re in a state of distress and they’re far weaker. When this occurs in your aorta, it jeopardizes the strength of the walls in this major blood vessel, leading to weak spots that can grow and rupture as your heart keeps sending blood through the damaged area.
We hope that this information provides you with another reason why quitting smoking makes all the sense in the world.
If you have more questions or you’d like us to evaluate your risks for an aortic aneurysm, please contact our office in Mountain View, California, to set up an appointment.
You Might Also Enjoy...
I Can't Catch My Breath When I Exercise. Is This Serious?
You want to get (or stay) in shape, so you make exercise a top priority. These days, however, you’re struggling with catching your breath when you exercise and you want to know why. Let’s take a look.
The 3 Most Important Steps You Can Take to Prevent Heart Disease
Consider this: Heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women in the United States, yet 90% of heart disease is preventable if you take action in three key areas. We review those areas here.
Why Is High Blood Pressure Dangerous?
You hear a lot about high blood pressure being bad, but why exactly is that? Here, we get back to basics to explain why this condition is linked to so many serious issues, including heart attack and stroke.
Heart Disease Runs in My Family: Am I at a Higher Risk?
We inherit a lot of things from our family that range from eye and hair color to certain health issues and risks. When it comes to heart disease, family history can play a large role.
3 Effective Treatment Options for Arrhythmia
Millions of Americans live with an arrhythmia — or irregular heart rhythm — and most don’t require intervention. That said, plenty of people do have potentially problematic arrhythmias and here’s how we treat them.