According to the Brazilian Society of Vascular Diseases and Vascular Surgery (SBACV), the total number of deaths from cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) reached 85,427 last year. According to a survey conducted by the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) group, the disease resulting from interruption of blood flow to an area of the brain is the second cause of death worldwide.
Read also
-
Claudia Meirelles
The doctor teaches you how to enhance the heart-healthy benefits of fruit
-
Claudia Meirelles
The cardiologist cites three risk factors that are most harmful to the arteries
-
Claudia Meirelles
Do you suspect you have fatty liver? The liver doctor answers what to do
-
Claudia Meirelles
The cardiologist points out the two worst habits that lead to “clogged” arteries
In an interview with Claudia Meirelles’ column, vascular neurosurgeon Victor Hugo Espindola highlighted that smoking tends to increase the risk of stroke. “When I talk about stroke prevention, I always emphasize that smoking is, by far, the worst lifestyle habit that a person can maintain,” highlights the specialist.
4 photos
Conditional closure.
1 of 4
Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide
Utah778/Getty Images 2 of 4
Controlling blood pressure, following up on exams, practicing physical activity, and getting good sleep reduce the overload on the brain vessels and help prevent stroke.
peterschreiber.media/Getty Images3 of 4
In a stroke, blood flow to an area of the brain is cut off
Katrina Kuhn/Science Image Library/Getty Images 4 of 4
According to the doctor, cigarettes generate continuous inflammation within the vessels and damage the inner lining of the arteries.
Chuchart Duangdao/Getty Images
The doctor, an expert in cerebral aneurysms, strokes and brain vascular diseases, explains that cigarettes generate persistent inflammation within the blood vessels. “It damages the inner lining of the arteries and makes the blood thicker and more likely to form clots. This creates exactly the scenario that leads to a stroke,” he explains.
According to Victor Hugo, the toxins in cigarettes accelerate atherosclerosis, a process that should occur over time, but “appears early” in smokers. “For this reason, even those who smoke a little already face an increased risk: vascular damage depends not only on the amount, but on the frequency of the attack.”
Vascular neurosurgeon leaves warning: “The good news is that quitting smoking starts improving your blood vessels almost immediately.The stroke and cerebral aneurysm specialist continues: “The sooner a person quits smoking, the greater the body’s ability to recover.”
Smoking commonly has the potential to increase the risk of stroke
To learn more, follow the column’s profile on Instagram.