Strokes & Smoking

A stroke can be called a "brain attack" because it involves the stoppage of blood flow to any part of the brain. Smoking has been established as one of the major risk factors for stroke. Long-term regular smoking doubles stroke risk because it reduces oxygen concentration in the blood, causing the heart to pump blood harder, and allowing blood clots to form more easily.

Expert Insight

• Smokers experience brain damage that puts them at a higher risk of stroke.

  The specific brain damage that regular, long-term smoking causes includes cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, and subarachnoid hemorrhage. Smoking also increases build-up of plaque in the arteries, which can block blood flow to the brain and cause a stroke.

Prevention/Solution

• Regular exercise keeps health problems such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol under control, which prevents stroke

  The obvious solution for lowering your risk of stroke is to quit smoking as soon as possible. Regular exercise and a healthy diet also decrease stroke risk. Good circulation is essential to stroke prevention, so it's important to have this checked by a doctor.

Misconceptions

• A study at the University of Maryland found there is little or no increased risk of stroke for former smokers; it applies to active, regular smokers only.