Contents:
- Medical Video: Effects of Smoking : How Does Smoking Cause a Stroke?
- How can smoking cause a stroke?
- What is the relationship between smoking and stroke?
- What about passive smoking
- What are the benefits of quitting smoking?
Medical Video: Effects of Smoking : How Does Smoking Cause a Stroke?
Smoking is one of the biggest risk factors for stroke. But nicotine addiction coupled with smoking habits makes addiction stronger so many smokers experience tremendous difficulties to quit, even if you know how dangerous this smoking habit is.
How can smoking cause a stroke?
A number of different chemicals are absorbed into the body through cigarette smoke, causing changes in the blood vessels of the brain which are dangerous for the long and short term.
The speed of blood flow through the blood vessels to the brain changes during and immediately after smoking. In addition, continuous injury to the lining of the blood vessels of the brain (blood vessels that supply blood to the brain) can contribute to long-term vascular disease called cerebrovascular disease, which often occurs in stroke patients. Blood vessels in the brain become more likely to experience blockages and increased blood clots after repeated exposure to chemicals inhaled through cigarettes.
Cigarette smoke also produces variations in heart rate and heart function which can eventually cause strokes.
What is the relationship between smoking and stroke?
Smoking can contribute to the risk of strokes and attacks transient ischemic (TIA), which is a small stroke that can heal. Some people who suffered strokes experienced TIA warning signs at first, while some people suddenly had severe permanent strokes without any warning signs or previous TIAs. TIA is always an indication of the risk of a serious stroke that may occur later in life.
Many smokers also suffer silent stroke, which is a small stroke that does not result in clear neurological complaints. Problem silent stroke what happens from time to time can interfere with the brain's ability to function properly and can eventually result in the emergence of serious neurological problems, such as dementia.
Smokers who suffer from TIA, stroke or silent stroke must be at risk for a stroke to recur or worse if they continue to smoke. Thus, the condition of TIA is a clear sign for smokers that there is damage caused by a stroke that develops in the body. There is one or more events silent stroke Smokers also need to be aware of the presence of significant injuries that arise in the brain.
What about passive smoking
Smoking has a dramatic impact on stroke events throughout the lifetime of smokers. However, scientific research studies have also shown that the risk of stroke in passive smoking also increases.
It was determined that the higher the smoke exposure in passive smokers, the higher the chances of a stroke. The partner of a person who smokes, even though he himself does not smoke, but is often exposed to high concentrations of cigarette smoke for years, has a higher risk of stroke than people with the same health condition but is not regularly exposed to cigarette smoke.
What are the benefits of quitting smoking?
Interestingly, the damage caused by smoking that leads to stroke has actually been proven to be able to recover 5-10 years after quitting smoking. This means that you are better off stopping smoking despite being addicted and exposed for years. Even patients who have experienced TIA have been shown to experience smoking damage after stopping smoking, and substantially reduce the risk of stroke.
It should be noted that for people who have had a stroke, it is difficult to see that the neurological symptoms they experience have actually subsided thanks to quitting smoking. And even though the effect is not felt, stopping smoking has automatically reduced the risk of having a second stroke.
However, quitting smoking cannot cure lung cancer if someone has cancer. Therefore, it is best to stop smoking before serious health problems arise, and not wait until the health problems arise.
There is not enough data to determine accurately whether electronic cigarettes have the same effect for the risk of stroke as traditional cigarettes.
