Smoking for Young Women

Published on September 2, 2008 4:28 AM

click here to find out more

Online tobacco low price

According to a new study young women who smoke are twice as likely to get a stroke as their nonsmoking person of the same age. The more cigarettes a woman smokes per day, the bigger her risk.

The scientists, who studied women ages 15 to 49, discovered that women who smoke one to 10 cigarette per day increase their stroke risk 2.2 times. Smokers, who use to 20 cigarettes per day increase stroke risk 2.5 times. The heaviest smokers who smoke 40 or more cigarettes per day increase their risk 9.1 times.

The study examined 466 women who had suffered their first strokes. A comparison group consisted of 604 women of similar race, age and ethnicity who had not had a stroke. Women were distinguished according to their smoking status as never-smokers, former smokers and current smokers.

Researcher John Cole, MD, assistant professor of neurology at the University of Maryland, says: “Our study adds strong evidence that cutting down helps reduce stroke risk, but quitting is unquestionably the best option”.

According to researchers, in 2005, an estimated 21% of American women aged 18-44 smoked cigarettes. The good news is that when women give up smoking, their risk of having a stroke declines. Stroke risk decreases three years after smoking stops. After five years of being smoke-free, former smokers have the same risk of stroke as never-smokers. People who stop smoking prior to age 35 can have the same life expectancy as those who have never smoked.

The researchers point out that media campaigns and high prices for tobacco products help decrease smoking rates among young people. They say: “Our study supports the need to target smoking as a preventable and modifiable risk factor for cerebrovascular disease in young women.”