Ana Maria Braga underwent surgery due to smoking; understand

Presenter Ana Maria Braga surprised viewers by revealing that she was once a smoker. In an appearance on Globo’s “Conversa com Bial” program, she said that she decided to give up the habit in 2023. And that she even had to undergo surgery at the end of last year due to smoking.

“I had blocked veins. All because of smoking! I had three stents placed in both legs and after eight months one of them became blocked and I still hadn’t stopped smoking”, revealed the presenter.

How smoking affects circulation

Vascular surgeon and angiologist at Venous, Dr. Cristienne Souza, reveals that the problem is quite common. “Smoking is one of the main risk factors for vascular diseases. Nicotine, one of the main components of cigarettes, causes vasoconstriction. This increases resistance to blood flow and can increase blood pressure”, she explains.

According to her, cigarettes cause damage to the endothelium, the inner layer of arteries, facilitating the formation of atherosclerotic plaques that can obstruct blood flow and lead to serious conditions such as peripheral arterial occlusion, myocardial infarction and strokes.

Furthermore, smoking increases blood viscosity, increasing the risk of venous and arterial thrombosis. “The carbon monoxide present in cigarette smoke also reduces the blood’s ability to transport oxygen, exacerbating the effects of atherosclerosis”, adds the specialist.

Harmful effects of cigarettes

Cristienne highlights that cigarettes negatively affect practically every system in the body. In addition to the vascular problems already mentioned, smoking is directly related to lung cancer, chronic respiratory diseases (such as COPD – Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and several other types of cancer (such as mouth, throat, esophagus and stomach).

“Cigarettes contain thousands of toxic chemicals, many of which are carcinogenic, that is, capable of causing cancer. Furthermore, these substances increase oxidative stress and inflammation in the body, damaging normal cellular function and the immune system,” says the expert.

Presenter also abandoned coffee

Ana Maria Braga also revealed that, after health complications, she decided to replace coffee with water. According to Cristienne, the impact of coffee on vascular health is not as direct or severe as that of cigarettes. Despite this, caffeine can cause a temporary increase in blood pressure in sensitive people.

“However, studies show that moderate coffee consumption (3 to 4 cups per day) is not associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and may even have protective effects due to its antioxidants. But individuals sensitive to caffeine or Those who already have cardiovascular conditions may need to moderate their consumption”, warns the doctor.

She points out that replacing coffee with water is beneficial mainly because adequate hydration is crucial for vascular health, helping to maintain blood volume and reduce blood viscosity.

Prevention

Just as replacing coffee with water is an important preventive measure, there are other measures that preserve vascular health and the health of the entire body, such as giving up smoking.

“Smoking cessation programs, medical and psychological support, use of nicotine substitutes and other supportive therapies can significantly help individuals stop the addiction,” says the doctor.

According to her, it is important to highlight that smoking cessation brings significant and quickly observable benefits to cardiovascular and general health.

“Within just 20 minutes of quitting smoking, blood pressure and heart rate begin to return to more normal levels. Over time, the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer decreases substantially. Additionally, lifestyle changes such as Increasing water intake, improving your diet and exercising regularly can complement the benefits of smoking cessation”, concludes the vascular surgeon.