Smoking and the risk of transient ischemic attack and stroke

Smoking injures blood vessel walls and speeds up hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis). As a result, the heart works harder, and blood pressure may increase. Cigarette smoking has been shown to increase your risk for transient ischemic attack (TIA) and stroke.¹

Heavy smokers are at greater risk for TIA and stroke. Daily cigarette smoking can increase the risk of stroke by 2½ times.²

The risk of stroke and TIA decreases for those who quit smoking. If you smoke less than one pack per day when you quit, within 5 years your risk will be the same as though you had never smoked.²

Citations

1. Mast H, et al. (1998). Cigarette smoking as a determinant of high-grade carotid artery stenosis in Hispanic, black, and white patients with stroke or transient ischemic attack. Stroke, 29(5): 908–912.

2. Kasner SE, Morgenstern LB (2004). Cerebrovascular disorders. In DC Dale, DD Federman, eds., ACP Medicine, section 11, chap. 4. New York: WebMD.