Smoking: a poisonous stroke factor

We have all been told over and over that smoking kills, but we may not picture what it represents actually. Strokes are the third leading cause of death in the United States. Cigarette smoking is a major cause of strokes.

Cigarette smoking is directly linked to 30% of all heart disease deaths in the United States each year. Indeed, smoking is hard on the heart, and the toxins in cigarette smoke cause plaques to form in the arteries, which leads to atherosclerosis; arteries progressively harden because of the deposit of fatty plaques and the scarring and thickening of the artery wall. Inflammation of the artery wall and the development of blood clots can obstruct blood flow and cause heart attacks or strokes. Heavy smokers have a relative risk of stroke 2 to 4 times greater than non-smokers.

And what is worse; not only smokers put themselves at risk, but they also threaten other’s health. Cigarette smoke does not just affect smokers. People around smokers are also at risk for developing health problems, especially children that are much more fragile than adults. Passive smoke (also called second-hand smoke) affects people who are frequently around smokers. According to the American Heart Association estimates, each year about 37,000 to 40,000 people die from heart and blood vessel disease caused by other people’s smoke.

But there is a positive point to underline: it is never too late to stop smoking! There are clear health benefits from giving up, regardless of how much you smoke, how affected your health, or your age when you stop. Quitting smoking will reduce your risk of high blood pressure, peripheral artery disease and stroke. To push up your decision to stop smoking, you should know that the risk of stroke decreases steadily after smoking cessation. Former smokers have the same stroke risk as nonsmokers after 5 to 15 years. Better stop right now then and lower our risk to suffer a stroke! Overall, you will only feel healthier. Quit now, be free!

Sources:
Stroke Association
American Heart
BMJ Editorial
Quit Smoking at About.com
Doctor Online NHS UK