A new study has found that smoking, particularly heavy smoking, is linked to a higher risk of cryptogenic ischemic stroke (CIS) in young adults. CIS is a type of stroke where the cause is unclear, making it difficult to prevent and treat.
The study, published on February 19 in Neurology Open Access, highlights the dangers of smoking for people aged 18 to 45 and suggests that men may be at greater risk than women.
Studying Stroke and Smoking in Young Adults
Researchers led by Dr. Phillip Ferdinand from the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust in the UK conducted the study across 19 European stroke centers. They recruited 546 young adults who had recently suffered from CIS and compared them to a matched control group without a history of stroke.
The goal was to find out if smoking was a significant risk factor for CIS in younger adults, even when considering other health risks like obesity, high blood pressure, lack of physical activity, and alcohol use.
Strong Link Between Smoking and Stroke
The findings showed that smoking was strongly associated with CIS. Even after adjusting for other risk factors, smokers had more than twice the risk of developing CIS compared to non-smokers (odds ratio: 2.39). The risk was even higher in men (odds ratio: 3.34), and the strongest link was found in those aged 45 to 49 (odds ratio: 3.77).
For heavy smokers—defined as those with more than 20 pack-years (one pack per day for 20 years or two packs per day for 10 years)—the risk was even more concerning. They were 4.3 times more likely to suffer from CIS, with men in this category being at the highest risk.
Smoking and Gender Differences
Interestingly, while smoking was a major risk factor for young men, the study did not find a significant association in women. This raises questions about whether biological or lifestyle differences influence how smoking affects stroke risk in men versus women.
What This Means
This study reinforces the serious health risks of smoking, even at a young age. Many people think of stroke as a condition that affects older adults, but these findings show that smoking can significantly increase the risk in people under 50. The fact that the risk grows with the number of years a person smokes highlights the importance of quitting as early as possible.
Public health efforts should continue to focus on smoking prevention and cessation, especially for younger adults who may not yet realize the long-term dangers. Reducing smoking rates could help lower the risk of stroke in young adults and improve overall health outcomes.
If you care about stroke, please read studies about how to eat to prevent stroke, and diets high in flavonoids could help reduce stroke risk.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about how Mediterranean diet could protect your brain health, and wild blueberries can benefit your heart and brain.
The research findings can be found in Neurology Open Access.
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