Stiffness and thickness in one's arteries are early signs of artheroscherosis or hardening of the arteries. Both of these conditions are caused by aging, hypertension, and smoking. So what you say? Why do my arteries need to be flexible? Several reasons:
- The thickness of the artery wall is a measure of early damage to the arteries which is thought to occur before the development of heart attacks and strokes.
- the stiffness of the arterial wall dictates how much the arteries can expand and contract to meet the body's demand for oxygen. Again, there is a correlation between strokes and heart attacks when the arteries are not elastic.
The good news for those who smoke is the hardenened arteries will gradually become more pliable when one quits smoking. The difference is significant after 10 years of no smoking. The difference remains signficant even with people who have hypertension (high blood pressure).
This information supports the benefits of smokers who stop smoking, as the longevity and quality of their lives will be enhanced.
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