health
Women smokers more likely to develop peripheral artery disease
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted June 13, 2011
Smoking could increase women's risk of developing symptomatic peripheral artery disease, according to a study published online June 6 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Women with the circulatory condition are more likely to develop coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction and stroke, said the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.
Researchers examined data on 39,825 women age 45 and older who participated in the Women's Health Study. Participants did not have cardiovascular disease, cancer or other major illnesses and were followed for a median of 12.7 years. Researchers found that smoking increased a woman's risk of developing PAD tenfold. Smoking cessation reduced the likelihood of getting the disease (link).
But even women who abstained from smoking for 20 years were more likely to develop the condition than those who never started the habit.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/06/13/hlbf0613.htm.
