HTW #132

Did you know smoking can cost you an arm and a leg? More serious than the dollar cost of smoking, peripheral artery disease (PAD) is one of the bad health effects of smoking. PAD is a result of damage to the blood vessels in your body from the harmful chemicals found in cigarette smoke. The chemicals cause plaque buildup and keeps blood from getting to where it needs to go. That means your appendages do not get the nutrients and oxygen that blood carries, and so they begin to die. The end result is that the arm, leg, fingers or toes need to be removed. PAD is life-long, but you have the choice to quit smoking and avoid the disease. Consider quitting smoking to improve your health now and in the future. Take the first step by talking to your doctor. You can also call the toll-free hotline 1-866-NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487) where friendly, helpful professionals will help get you started for free.