Stop Smoking, For Feet’s Sake!
November 16th marks The Great American Smokeout. This annual event encourages smoking cessation, and the expert team at Advanced Feet and Ankle Care fully supports such efforts. After all, we’re familiar with the podiatric consequences of tobacco usage.
The Great American Smokeout centers on damage to the respiratory system. However, it seems that the negative consequences of smoking are often overlooked when it comes to foot health. Below, we’ve put together some helpful information regarding the threats that smoking poses to your feet. If you’re struggling with nicotine addiction, we hope these pointers will encourage you to quit, and if you’ve already done so, we hope that they will help you remain tobacco-free.
Stay Smoke-Free, Avoid PAD
Peripheral Arterial Disease is a dangerous cardiac condition that causes problems in the feet and legs. Smoking significantly increases the odds that you’ll be afflicted by it.
Arteries that are narrowed by plaque damage circulation, and because your feet are as far as physically possible from your heart, they cannot get the oxygen they need.
Patients with diabetes are at greater risk for developing PAD.
As PAD worsens, so do symptoms: pain, difficulty walking, and even gangrene.
Raynaud’s Disease
Raynaud’s Disease shrinks the arteries that bring blood to your skin, which makes extremities like your toes chilly and numb, especially in cold weather. Injuries to the feet or frostbite can cause it.
Raynaud’s can change the color of your skin, making it turn white or even blue.
Numbness can be followed by prickly, stinging pain upon warming.
It can take fifteen minutes to restore full blood flow in severe cases.
The risk of sores and infections is heightened by Raynaud’s.
Don’t let smoking hurt your hard-working feet. If you’re struggling to quit or experiencing tobacco-related ailments, expert DPMs Dr. Jason Grossman and Dr. Paul A. Osemene will happily help you at our comfortable, convenient offices in Old Bridge and Sayreville. They'll consult Dr. Peter Ferrugia, our resident vascular specialist, to offer personalized care and onsite testing that suits your podiatric needs. Call (732) 679-4330 to schedule your appointment, or contact us online today!