The researchers looked at the men who suffered strokes and found that smokers had a stroke risk that was four times higher than non-smokers. The risk was proportionate to the number of cigarettes smoked. In other words, two pack a day smokers faced a higher risk than one pack a day smokers. While their risk was lower than moderate and heavy cigarette smokers, pipe and cigar smokers faced a significantly higher stroke risk than non-smokers. In fact, the level of risk was similar to cigarette smokers who consumed less than a pack a day.
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States.
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted and part of the brain is damaged. A stroke can happen when the arteries that supply blood to the brain become narrowed because of fatty deposits. Arteries are narrowed by atherosclerosis, a condition typically caused by the buildup of fat and cholesterol. Other research has shown that cigarette smoke may damage the walls even further. Doctors at U T Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas that say to lower your risk of heart disease, reduce your intake of fat and cholesterol and quit smoking.