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Blood Clots and Smoking is there a Connection?

Each year, about one-hundred thousand UK residents die from smoking-related illnesses. As you might expect, most of these deaths are attributed to cancer or pulmonary disease. But smoking can also increase the risk of strokes and heart disease.

At present, heart disease is the number one killer in the UK. And while most people assume that a bad ticker is the result of a poor diet, many patients that suffer from heart disease are also smokers. This is not a coincidence.

How does it work? For one thing, nicotine impedes the release and distribution of a natural blood thinner that prevents clotting. As a result, chronic smokers have much higher levels of a clotting agent known as fibrinogen in their systems. Naturally, this results in more blood clots.

We also know that smoking affects blood platelets and that it may cause them to stick together in tight clusters. This means that the blood of an inveterate smoker will become progressively thicker over time, which again lends itself to clotting. When added to the increased risk of hypertension that smokers are subjected to, this can be a recipe for disaster.

Due to these factors, a smoker is far more likely to suffer from a heart attack or a stroke than a non-smoker. Though the numbers change as the smoking rate declines and smokers smoke a bit less, the risk of a heart attack or a stroke is currently twice as high for a smoker. It is also a fact that blood clots can have an affect on overall circulation.

While the most dangerous clotting obviously occurs in the heart or brain, circulatory problems caused by clotting can also block blood vessels in the legs, which can make it extremely painful for patients to move around. The good news is that the body will naturally heal itself overtime if you just stop smoking. Studies have shown that the blood begins to thin and circulation improves just a few months after quitting.