A growing threat

New research # 29

A growing threat of heavy smoking and unexplained strokes in adults drew the researchers’ attention. A new study reveals that smokers  below 50 years of age ,have a higher risk of having unexplained stroke. Unexplained strokes  are known as ” Cryptogenic strokes ” . They are a type of  “Ischemic strokes”, caused by a blockage of blood flow. The exact cause of the blockage is not yet clear.

Contents:

• Cryptogenic stroke.
• New study.
• Doctors’ opinions.
• Smoking & stroke risk.
• Quit smoking.

Cryptogenic stroke.

Cryptogenic stroke is the term used to refer to strokes for which no definite cause can be identified. The evaluation of a patient with ischemic stroke should include a careful history regarding symptom onset, progression, associated symptoms, and medical history. In most cases, a blood clot that blocks blood flow to the brain causes a stroke. But in some instances, the cause can’t be determined. Strokes without a known cause are called cryptogenic. About 1 in 4 stroke survivors will likely have another stroke. If you like to know more about it, then our article ” About stroke ” will be a great help.

New study.

Keeping in view  a growing threat, researcher manage a study.

The  study has 546 participants, age 18 to 49 years. Every participant has experienced an unexplained stroke.

After the completion of study, and finalizing the outcome of  the study , the  researchers reported that :

• Around 33 % of the participants , who had  a stroke, were smoking .
• Another 15 % of the participants were non smokers, and they did not experience any stroke.
• The smokers had twice the risk of having an unexplained stroke.
• The male smoker individuals could have 3 times stroke risk.
• Smokers between 45 to 49 years of age , had about 4 times the stroke risk.
• People who smoke 20 packs in a year, had more than four times the risk of an unexplained stroke.
• Smokers between 45 t0 49 years of age , smoked 20 packs a year have five times the stroke risk.
• Male  who are chain smokers, had around 7 times the stroke risk.
• Researchers found that if a person smoke more, he/she will have higher risk of unexplained stroke.

The researcher noted that the study groups were mostly white European. The researchers were not sure if the other countries’ people will show the same result. Any how the results echo similar findings linking stroke risk with smoking. Experts say the findings are important.

These findings were published in Neurology on February 19.

Doctors’ opinions:

Medical doctors who realize a growing threat welcomed the study’s findings and expressed their feelings.

 Dr. Phillip Ferdinand , a researcher at Keele University in the United Kingdom and a member of the American Academy of Neurology said in his  statement :

” 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 “.

Mr. Mitchell S. V . Elkind, MD, the American Heart Association’s chief Clinical Science officer said in his statement :

“The 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. The study also extends this knowledge specifically to younger people with stroke and suggest that reducing smoking in adults less than 50 years may be an optimal way to combat the growing threat of stroke in younger adults.”

Dr. Christopher Yi , MD, a vascular surgeon at Memorial Care Orange Coast Medical Center in California said in his own words :

” The study on smoking and unexplained strokes in younger adults is both significant and concerning. The findings reinforce the well-established link between smoking and cardiovascular disease but introduce new concerns about its impact on younger populations .”

Jose Morales, MD, a vascular neurologist and neuro interventional surgeon at Providence Saint John’s Health Centre in Santa Monica , California agreed that :

” 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 “.

Prashanth Krishna Mohan , MD, a clinical associate professor of neurology and neurological  sciences at Stanford University said:

” 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. “.

Jayne Morgan, MD, a cardiologist and vice president of medical affairs at Hello Heart added :

” Smoking  is known to cause a narrowing and hardening of the arteries, especially the coronary arteries ( arteries of the heart) . The chemicals in cigarette smoke damage the inner lining of the arteries creating  plaques or fatty deposits that arrow the lumen , reduce the blood supply , and thereby oxygen supply to the heart.

”  Further , nicotine causes constriction of blood vessels , raising the blood pressure. 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”.

Smoking & stroke risk.

According to the experts, smoking affects the human heart in different ways.

• Smoking interfere the body  cholesterol levels , specifically it promote the  L.D.L. ( the bad cholesterol) cholesterol, and reduce the H.D.L. ( the good cholesterol) levels.
• Smoking increase the blood pressure.
• Smoking make the blood sticker by reducing the oxygen in the blood. As a result increase plaque buildup in the arteries . This cause narrowing arteries which ends on blockage .
• I do not know if there is any Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in our country. Developed countries of the world keep the complete data of disease control and prevention. For example, in the U.S.A. the CDC know that there are more than 16 million people in the U.S.A live with a smoking related disease. Smoking and secondhand smoke exposure are estimated to cause more than 480,000 deaths every year.
• According to CDC, the smoking hurts almost every organ in the body. It is linked to a some other disease, such as :
• Heart Disease.
• Cancer.
• Type 2 diabetes.
• Lung disease.
• Certain eye diseases.
• Ailments involving the immune system.

Quit smoking:

Quit smoking, is very easy to ask a smoker. I had been smoking for almost  40 years. I tried many times to quit smoking. During those days I use to feel as if my stomach is not able to digest the food i  ate. Then i started smoking again. It happened that i caught cough after smoking. That was the  day when i decided not to smoke any more. Now it is almost 30 years, i do not smoke, and i keep walking in the morning since last 25 years. No cough at all.

If you want to quit smoking, do the following :

• Make a promise to your self that you will quit smoking for ever.
• Tell your friends, relatives that you are quitting .
• If your friends offer cigarette to smoke. refuse it politely.
• Throw out any lighter, matches , cigarettes in your home, car and your work place.
• Control your self for around 10 days . Do not smoke any more. After that you will not feel any hunger to smoke.

source : healthline.com

Achievements:

• The researchers found that people under 50 , if they are smoking, they have a higher risk of unexplained stroke.
• Heavily smoking people , say 20 packs of cigarettes  or more  in a year have even higher risk of strokes.
• Males and  adults under 45 to 49 years of age would have more risk of stroke.

Last words;

I always pray to All-Mighty Allah to bless every body on earth with good health and success.