Stroke or cerebrovascular accident, is an interruption of blood supply to the brain, which can result from atherosclerosis or high blood pressure. Smoking is a contributing factor, especially in younger people. Peripheral vascular disease is a disease of the blood vessels in the legs caused by atherosclerosis. Cigarette smoking is the most important risk factor for this disease, which is rarely found in non-smokers. Peripheral vascular disease can lead to painful leg ulcers which are slow to heal and eventually leads to gangrene, resulting in amputation of the limb.
Malignant hypertension is more common in smokers than non-smokers.
Women who take the contraceptive pill and who smoke, face up to 39 times greater risk of having either a heart attach or stroke than women who neither smoke nor take the pill. For those who have heart disease, exposure to ETS exacerbates their problems because of increased absorption of carbon monoxide which compromises the blood's ability to absorb oxygen. Apart from smoking, other factors which increase the risk of cardiovascular disease include alcohol consumption, lack of regular exercise and obesity. A combination of these risk factors greatly increases the risk of sickness and death. The 1989-90 ABS National Health Survey noted a strong association between smoking and drinking alcohol.