Smoking
Quit smoking
Compared with people who never smoke, smokers typically face about twice the risk of stroke, and the more you smoke, the higher that risk tends to climb.
Tobacco in any form is harmful to health. Breathing second-hand smoke also adds risk. On average, people who smoke have roughly double the stroke risk of people who do not.
What is stroke and how does smoking increase the risk?
Stroke hits the brain and can change life in an instant. It usually happens in one of two ways: a clot or fatty build-up blocks a blood vessel, or a vessel in the brain bursts.
Smoking pushes up blood pressure, reduces oxygen in the blood, and makes blood stickier, so clots are more likely. Smoke contains thousands of chemicals; some damage artery walls and encourage atherosclerosis (narrowed, hardened arteries), which raises the chance of clots travelling to the brain or heart.
What if you've experienced a stroke or TIA?
After a first stroke, continuing to smoke increases the odds of another; heavier smoking generally means higher risk. It also raises the risk of dying from stroke or heart attack.
If you have had a stroke or a TIA (transient ischaemic attack), the safest approach is to stop smoking as soon as you can, with support from your care team.
What are the benefits of stopping smoking?
People who quit after a first stroke lower their chance of another stroke. Quitting also reduces the risk of dying from stroke or having a heart attack.
When you stop, you stop drawing toxic chemicals into your blood that damage vessels and promote clots. Within about a month, blood pressure often moves toward a healthier range. Heart attack and stroke risk begins to fall as soon as you quit and may be roughly halved after a year.
Some of the gains show up quickly:
- Within about a month, blood pressure often settles into a healthier range.
- Heart attack and stroke risk starts dropping as soon as you stop using tobacco; after a year it may be about half what it was while smoking.
- After many years without smoking (for example, fifteen), stroke and heart attack risk can come close to that of someone who never smoked.
How to QUIT
It is never too late to quit. Talk to your doctor about medicines, counselling, and a plan that works for you.
In Fiji, your GP or nearest health centre can tell you what stop-smoking help is available locally. If you think someone is having a stroke, go straight to the nearest Hospital or Health Centre.” and adjust narrative to: “Ways you may get support include: discussing nicotine replacement or other treatments your clinician recommends; and seeking information online about available options.
Ways you may get support include: discussing nicotine replacement or other treatments your clinician recommends; asking the Ministry of Health or your clinic for leaflets, apps, or group programs offered in your area.