Smokes can lead to strokes

For World No Tobacco Day, smokers were given a confronting warning - smokes can lead to strokes.

The Stroke Foundation is imploring the 2.6 million Australians who smoke to quit cigarettes for good, amid research which has found smoking doubles the risk of this potentially devastating disease.

Stroke Foundation has partnered with Quit Victoria to launch a powerful new campaign highlighting the link between smoking and stroke risk. Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer Sharon McGowan said the campaign’s message must be heard across the country.

“Smokers need to take heed of the warning and say goodbye to cigarettes to improve their overall health and reduce their stroke risk,” Ms McGowan said.
“If not only for themselves, but for the people they love.

“This year alone there will be 56,000 strokes in Australia – that is one stroke every nine minutes – and many of these will be experienced by someone of working age.

“All too often we think of stroke as an older person’s disease and something you cannot do anything about, but stroke can impact anyone of any age. Up to 80 percent of strokes can be prevented by measures including a tobacco free lifestyle,” she said.

Tobacco smoke contains thousands of toxic chemicals which are deposited on the lungs or absorbed into the blood stream. Some of these chemicals damage blood vessel walls, causing arteries to narrow and harden. This increases the chance of blood clots forming and causing a stroke.

Stroke attacks the brain, our most vital organ, and can change lives in an instant.

Advancements in stroke treatment mean more Australians were surviving stroke, but for survivors and their families its impact is far reaching.

Jayson Killick used to smoke 50 cigarettes a day before he suffered a stroke in 2010 at the age of 35 while driving a taxi.

Despite the stroke, he returned to smoking, before getting a reality check from his step daughter.

“She caught me having a cigarette and told me to stop because she did not want me to die from a stroke,” Jayson said.

“I went straight to my doctor. Her words stuck in my head and motivated me to quit for my family.

“Stroke had a massive impact on my life. I had to learn how to walk and talk again. I suffered fatigue, problems with balance and bouts of depression.

“If you think giving up smoking is hard, living with stroke is even harder,” he said

Ms McGowan said many working age Australians, like Jayson, were struggling with stroke’s burden.

“Around 20 strokes a day are happening to Australians of working age, many young adult survivors struggle to return to work after stroke, which can cause increased hardship for them and their families,’’ Ms McGowan said.

“However, there is some good news. The risk of a stroke starts to drop immediately after a person stops smoking, and can drop by as much as half after one year.

“It’s never too late to take control of your health. Quit smoking, reduce your stroke risk and your loved ones will thank you for it,” she said.

Australians are being urged to talk to your doctor about quitting or call the National Quitline on 13 78 48 (13 QUIT).