You’re probably aware that smoking can have a significant affect on your heart and lungs, but you may be surprised to learn that it can also have a negative effect on your feet. In fact, smoking can even lead to a condition known as “smoker’s feet.” In today’s blog, we take a closer look at smoker’s feet and explain how you can help to improve the health of your feet if you’re a current or former smoker.
What Is Smoker’s Feet?
Smoker’s feet is a bit of an unofficial term that describes inhibited blood flow to a person’s feet. Since your feet are the part of your body that is furthest away from your heart, they need all the healthy blood that they can get. If smoking makes it harder for your feet to get the healthy blood they need to perform normal functions, a number of issues can arise.
Problems associated with poor circulation to your feet include:
- Decreased wound healing
- Formation of blood clots
- Nerve damage
- Decreased sensation in your feet
- Tissue damage or death
And while smoker’s feet can describe a number of issues related to inhibited blood flow in your feet, it’s most closely associated with peripheral arterial disease or PAD. Peripheral arterial disease is categorized by plaque buildup in your arteries that limit blood flow to your extremities, and smoking is considered one of the leading risk factors for its onset. If you’re a current or former smoker and experiencing any of the following symptoms, you could be dealing with the early stages of PAD:
- Tired or weak legs
- Leg pain
- Slow healing wounds on the feet
- Cold, pale feet
- Poor toenail growth
If you’re dealing with these symptoms, or you’re a smoker who hopes to avoid these problems in the future, Dr. Silverman and his team can help. For starters, if you’re a current smoker, it is highly advised that you work to wean off and eventually stop smoking and using nicotine. Nicotine has been shown to constrict your blood vessels, which limits the amount of healthy blood they can carry. It can also lead to hardening of the blood vessels, which will force the heart to work harder in order to pump blood. Other chemicals in cigarettes can make it easier for plaque to build up on your arteries.
Once you’ve kicked the habit, you’ll want to make some lifestyle changes that help to improve your circulation. Regular exercise is key, as is improving your diet to ensure your body has access to a range of healthy vitamins and nutrients to aid in structure development. Remember, it’s never too late to stop smoking and to start improving your circulation. Staying active and consuming a healthy diet will go a long way in helping to reverse the effects of smoking.