- Researchers report that people under 50 who smoke have a higher risk of having an unexplained stroke.
- People who smoke heavily — 20 packs of cigarettes a year or more — have even higher stroke risks.
- The risks are especially pronounced in males and adults ages 45 to 49.
A new study reports that people under 50 who smoke have a higher risk of experiencing an unexplained stroke.
This is particularly true for males and adults ages 45 to 49, the researchers noted. They found that the more a person smokes, the higher the risk of having an unexplained stroke. The findings were published on February 19 in Neurology.
“Our findings suggest that continued public health efforts around preventing smoking, especially heavy smoking, may be an important way to help reduce the number of strokes happening to young people,” said Phillip Ferdinand, a researcher at Keele University in the United Kingdom and a member of the American Academy of Neurology, in a statement.
“This study confirms what we have long known to be true about smoking: that it can cause strokes, even in the absence of other risk factors,” added Mitchell S. V. Elkind, MD, the American Heart Association’s chief clinical science officer.
“The study also extends this knowledge specifically to younger people with stroke and suggests that reducing smoking in adults less than 50 years may be an optimal way to combat the growing threat of stroke in younger adults,” Elkind told Healthline.
Heavy smoking and stroke risk in young adults
The researchers studied 546 people ages 18 to 49 who had an unexplained stroke. They were compared to people of the same ages and sexes who did not have strokes.
Unexplained strokes are called cryptogenic strokes. They are a type of ischemic stroke triggered by a blockage of blood flow where the exact cause of the blockage isn’t clear.
The researchers reported that 33% of people who had a stroke were also smokers compared to 15% of subjects who didn’t have a stroke.
After adjusting for factors that could affect stroke risk, the researchers reported:
- People who smoked had more than twice the risk of having an unexplained stroke.
- Male individuals who smoked had three times the stroke risk.
- People ages 45 to 49 who smoked had nearly four times the stroke risk.
The researchers also looked at people who smoked the equivalent of 20 packs a year or heavy smoking use.
They found:
- People who were heavy smokers had more than four times the risk of an unexplained stroke.
- People ages 45 to 49 who smoked 20 packs a year had nearly five times the stroke risk.
- Men who smoked heavily had nearly seven times the stroke risk.
Researchers noted the study group comprised mostly white Europeans, so the results may not be applicable to other populations. However, the results echo similar findings linking stroke risk with smoking. Experts say the findings are important.
“The study on smoking and unexplained strokes in younger adults is both significant and concerning,” Christopher Yi, MD, a vascular surgeon at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in California, told Healthline.
“The findings reinforce the well-established link between smoking and cardiovascular disease but introduce new concerns about its impact on younger populations.”
José Morales, MD, a vascular neurologist and neurointerventional surgeon at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California, agreed.
“The data are interesting and highlight the serious health risks that smoking cigarettes pose. Studies such as these sound the alarm on the need to promote smoking cessation early through primary care efforts,” he told Healthline.
“The study basically reaffirms what we’ve known all along, but it does address this issue specifically in younger patients who may not have any of the other typical risk factors that we commonly associate with strokes, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, etc.,” added Prashanth Krishnamohan, MD, a clinical associate professor of neurology and neurological sciences at Stanford University.
How smoking increases stroke risk
Experts say there are various ways that smoking affects the heart and raises stroke risk.
“Smoking increases the stroke risk by several mechanisms by interfering with the cholesterol levels in the body, specifically elevating the levels of bad cholesterol (triglycerides and LDL) and lowering the levels of good cholesterol (HDL),” explained Krishnamohan.
“It also leads to increased blood pressure and makes the blood stickier by reducing the oxygen content in the blood and as a result, leads to increased plaque buildup (atherosclerosis) in the arteries, causing narrowing and eventually blockage of the arteries.”
“Smoking is known to cause a narrowing and hardening of the arteries, especially the coronary arteries (arteries of the heart),” added Jayne Morgan, MD, a cardiologist and vice president of medical affairs at Hello Heart.
“The chemicals in cigarette smoke damage the inner lining of the arteries creating plaques or fatty deposits that narrow the lumen, reduce the blood supply, and thereby the oxygen supply to the heart.”
“Further, nicotine causes constriction of blood vessels, raising the blood pressure,” Morgan noted. “And finally, smoking produces carbon monoxide which binds more strongly to hemoglobin in the blood than oxygen, further contributing to artery damage and formation of blood clots.”
Other health dangers of smoking
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports more than 16 million people in the United States live with a smoking-related disease.
Smoking and secondhand smoke exposure are estimated to cause more than 480,000 deaths in the U.S. every year.
CDC officials list smoking as the leading preventable cause of disease, death, and disability in the U.S. They note that smoking harms nearly every organ in the body and is linked to a variety of diseases, such as:
- cancer
- heart disease
- lung disease
- type 2 diabetes
- reproductive health issues
- certain eye diseases
- ailments involving the immune system
“Most young people feel pretty invincible,” added Morales. “However, the truth is that much of the damage we become aware of in middle age starts when we are young. This includes smoking and other unhealthy lifestyle habits. This damage accumulates and has a pretty significant effect on your body years later. To live well, one should start taking care of their body early and often.”
How to quit smoking
The CDC lists a number of tips to help people who are trying to quit smoking. These include:
- Tell people you are quitting so they can support you.
- Get rid of all cigarettes in your home, car, and workplace as well as implements used in smoking such as lighters and matches.
- Distract yourself when you have the urge to smoke.
- Find a safe substitute for cigarettes such as cinnamon sticks.
There are also products and programs that can help a person quit smoking. These include nicotine patch treatments as well as smoking cessation medications, and alternative therapies such as hypnosis and acupuncture.
“There is no safe/acceptable level when it comes to the harmful effects of smoking,” Krishnamohan told Healthline. “Smoking not only affects the people who smoke, but also people around them, children and other nonsmoking adults in the household.”
“This study shows that younger smokers face stroke risks typically associated with older populations, reinforcing the urgency to quit early before irreversible damage occurs,” added Yi.
What to know about strokes
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain bleeds or ruptures. It can also be caused by a blockage in the blood supply to the brain. The brain can then be deprived of oxygen, causing damage to tissues and cells.
The CDC reports that every year, nearly 800,000 people in the U.S. have a stroke. About 600,000 are new or first strokes.
A 2022 report noted that fewer people in the U.S. over 75 were experiencing strokes. However, stroke rates are on the rise in people ages 49 and younger, especially those in certain geographic areas.
“Even as stroke rates are declining in people over age 75, they are increasing in those 50 and under, likely due to the increases in risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity — and possibly smoking — in younger people,” Elkin said.
A stroke can come on quickly and without warning. Symptoms include:
- paralysis
- weakness in the face, arms, or legs, especially on one side of the body
- trouble speaking or understanding others
- confusion or disorientation
- vision problems
- loss of balance or coordination
- dizziness
Experts say the sooner a person who has had a stroke gets care, the better their outcome is likely to be. They note there are things a person can do to lower their risk of stroke. These include:
- quitting smoking
- limiting alcohol use
- keeping a moderate weight
- getting regular checkups
Takeaway
A new study outlines the health dangers for people under 50 who smoke. Researchers say the risk of an unexplained stroke is higher in younger adults who smoke. This is particularly true for males and people ages 45 to 49.
The researchers found that people who smoke the equivalent of 20 packs or more per year had the highest stroke risks. The findings come amid reports of increasing stroke rates in people under 50.
Heavy Smoking Linked to Unexplained Stroke in Young Adults, Study Finds
Source: Pinoy Lang Sakalam
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