Most of the data affirm that smoking is one of the risk factors for stroke. Prospective studies in the United States and Japan have shown that the mortality rate of smokers in cerebrovascular diseases aged 55-64 years is 1.4 times that of non-smokers. The risk of stroke in heavy smokers ( 40 cigarettes / day ) was twice as high as that in light smokers ( 10 cigarettes / day ). Kobota et al.proposed that smoking can reduce the ratio of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and increase serum total cholesterol, aggravate atherosclerosis and reduce cerebral blood flow. The blood flow of male smokers was 12.5 % lower than that of non-smokers. The older the age, the more obvious the decrease of cerebral blood flow. This may be due to the fact that smoking aggravates atherosclerosis, vascular stenosis and increased resistance. Recent studies suggest that smoking increases the risk of cerebrovascular disease for the following reasons : 1 The high concentration of carbon monoxide in smokers can increase the permeability of the blood vessel wall, which is easy to deposit lipoprotein in the blood vessel wall and cause atherosclerosis. 2 long-term smoking can cause vascular wall cells prostaglandins ( dilate blood vessels ) reduction, vasoconstriction, platelet aggregation, coagulation disorders. Long-term smoking ( more than 10 years, 20 / day ) can promote occlusive cerebrovascular disease. 3. Tobacco contains nicotine substances, can increase the content of adrenaline in plasma, causing heart rate, blood pressure increased. Smokers with hypertension are 20 times more likely to have cerebrovascular disease than non-smokers.
