Smoking’s Secret Weapon: Vascular Poison in Every Puff
Cracking Addiction11 Sep

Smoking’s Secret Weapon: Vascular Poison in Every Puff

Smoking’s Secret Weapon: Vascular Poison in Every Puff

In this high-voltage episode of Cracking Addiction,

Dr  Ferghal Armstrong delivers a powerful reminder: cardiovascular disease is the most immediate risk of smoking—not just lung cancer years down the line.

Even minimal exposure—whether a couple of cigarettes a day or inhaling secondhand smoke—is enough to trigger endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, thrombosis, and lipid imbalances that accelerate life-threatening atherosclerosis.

Dr  Armstrong breaks down the mechanisms: smoking impairs your artery lining, stiffens your vessels, raises blood pressure, and encourages plaque buildup and rupture.

It triggers systemic inflammation via cytokines like IL‑6 and TNF‑α, elevates CRP, activates platelets, and creates a hypercoagulable state—making clots cling and resist dissolution. Oxidized LDL fuels foam cell formation, and carbon monoxide starves tissues of oxygen, forcing your heart to work harder against all odds.

He then lays out the devastating cardiovascular outcomes: from coronary heart disease and stroke to aortic aneurysm, peripheral artery disease, sudden cardiac death, and accelerated heart failure. Secondhand smoke is nearly as lethal, impairing coronary flow and increasing event risk by up to 30% after just half an hour of exposure.

But here’s the saving grace: cardiovascular harm reverses fast when you stop. Your heart attack risk begins dropping within 24 hours, halved by one year, and can approach that of a non‑smoker over time—which Dr Armstrong calls a “powerful motivator.”

He ties it all together with clinical guidance: view smoking as a vascular poison, assess second‑hand smoke when evaluating cardiovascular risk, monitor key markers (lipids, CRP, ECGs), and deliver birch‑clear cessation messages like, "quitting today cuts your heart attack risk in half within a year."

If you're looking for a video that’s evidence-packed, urgent, and deeply motivating to help you or your loved ones quit smoking—this episode is a tailored wake‑up call.

Episoder(219)

Psychiatric comorbidity in substance use disorder

Psychiatric comorbidity in substance use disorder

In episode 35 of Cracking Addiction we discuss in detail some of the psychiatric comorbidities associated with substance use disorders and what to screen for, be aware of and some management techniques.Discussions and comments in our videos are for informational purposes only and should not replace the advice of your medical professional. Please consult with your doctor before making any changes to your medical treatment or lifestyle.Latest Blogshttps://www.meducate.com.au/blogAbout Meducate ®Meducate provides online education for doctors, clinicians, health professionals and the public.See the website to browse the many different talks and courses available https://www.meducate.com.au

13 Apr 202223min

Special circumstances in OST Part 2

Special circumstances in OST Part 2

In episode 34 of Cracking Addiction we discuss how to manage some of the special circumstances in opioid substation therapy including OST in renal and hepatic impairment, managing polypharmacy complications with OST and managing acute pain whilst a patient is on OST.Discussions and comments in our videos are for informational purposes only and should not replace the advice of your medical professional. Please consult with your doctor before making any changes to your medical treatment or lifestyle.Latest Blogshttps://www.meducate.com.au/blogAbout Meducate ®Meducate provides online education for doctors, clinicians, health professionals and the public.See the website to browse the many different talks and courses available https://www.meducate.com.au

6 Apr 202218min

Special circumstances in OST Part 1

Special circumstances in OST Part 1

In episode 33 of Cracking Addiction we discuss how to manage some of the special circumstances in opioid substation therapy including vomiting of doses of OST, dealing with intoxicated patients, overdoses of OST and transitioning between Methadone and Suboxone and vice versa.Discussions and comments in our videos are for informational purposes only and should not replace the advice of your medical professional. Please consult with your doctor before making any changes to your medical treatment or lifestyle.Latest Blogshttps://www.meducate.com.au/blogAbout Meducate ®Meducate provides online education for doctors, clinicians, health professionals and the public.See the website to browse the many different talks and courses available https://www.meducate.com.au

30 Mar 202224min

Naloxone

Naloxone

In episode 32 of Cracking Addiction we discuss the harm reduction intervention of Naloxone and when to consider prescribing this medication, the benefits of take home naloxone and how it saves lives!Discussions and comments in our videos are for informational purposes only and should not replace the advice of your medical professional. Please consult with your doctor before making any changes to your medical treatment or lifestyle.Latest Blogshttps://www.meducate.com.au/blogAbout Meducate ®Meducate provides online education for doctors, clinicians, health professionals and the public.See the website to browse the many different talks and courses available https://www.meducate.com.au

23 Mar 202221min

Harm Reduction

Harm Reduction

In episode 31 of Cracking Addiction we discuss the harm reduction interventions that we can implement for people who inject drugs to decrease the risks of morbidity and mortality.Discussions and comments in our videos are for informational purposes only and should not replace the advice of your medical professional. Please consult with your doctor before making any changes to your medical treatment or lifestyle.Latest Blogshttps://www.meducate.com.au/blogAbout Meducate ®Meducate provides online education for doctors, clinicians, health professionals and the public.See the website to browse the many different talks and courses available https://www.meducate.com.au

16 Mar 202226min

Suboxone Part 2

Suboxone Part 2

In episode 30 of Cracking Addiction we discuss the different opioid receptors buprenorphine acts upon and the nature of these effects, the difference between agonists and antagonists, how to start a patient on Suboxone and how to monitor patients on Suboxone and adjust doses.Discussions and comments in our videos are for informational purposes only and should not replace the advice of your medical professional. Please consult with your doctor before making any changes to your medical treatment or lifestyle.Latest Blogshttps://www.meducate.com.au/blogAbout Meducate ®Meducate provides online education for doctors, clinicians, health professionals and the public.See the website to browse the many different talks and courses available https://www.meducate.com.au

9 Mar 202222min

Suboxone Part 1

Suboxone Part 1

In episode 29 of Cracking Addiction we discuss Suboxone and talk about the components of Suboxone as well as the pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of Suboxone.Discussions and comments in our videos are for informational purposes only and should not replace the advice of your medical professional. Please consult with your doctor before making any changes to your medical treatment or lifestyle.Latest Blogshttps://www.meducate.com.au/blogAbout Meducate ®Meducate provides online education for doctors, clinicians, health professionals and the public.See the website to browse the many different talks and courses available https://www.meducate.com.au

2 Mar 202218min

LAIB - Top Tips

LAIB - Top Tips

In episode 28 of Cracking Addiction we discuss our practical tips, advice and experience in managing patients on LAIB and share what we have learned.Discussions and comments in our videos are for informational purposes only and should not replace the advice of your medical professional. Please consult with your doctor before making any changes to your medical treatment or lifestyle.Latest Blogshttps://www.meducate.com.au/blogAbout Meducate ®Meducate provides online education for doctors, clinicians, health professionals and the public.See the website to browse the many different talks and courses available https://www.meducate.com.au

23 Feb 202219min

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