Smoking Increases The Risks For Stroke

A stroke, also known as a brain attack, occurs when blood supply to a part of the brain is cut off or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. Parts of the brain are damaged or die in either case. A stroke can result in long-term brain damage, disability, or even death.

In the United States, tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death. According to 2019 data, approximately 34 million US adults smoke cigarettes. Every day, approximately 1,600 young people under the age of 18 smoke their first cigarette, and 235 begin smoking cigarettes. Over 16 million people have at least one smoking-related disease, and 58 million nonsmokers are exposed to secondhand smoke.

Moreover, the risk of poor functional outcomes increased with the number of cigarettes smoked each day among current smokers. Smokers who smoked more than one pack per day were 27 percent to 48 percent more likely than nonsmokers to have poor functional outcomes three months after a stroke, and they were also 32 percent to 53 percent more likely to rely on others to help them get through daily routines.

How Is Smoking Related to Heart Disease and Stroke?

Smoking is a major cause of the cardiovascular disease (CVD) and causes one of every four deaths from CVD. 

Smoking can:

• Raise triglycerides (a type of fat in your blood)
• Lower “good” cholesterol (HDL)
• Make blood sticky and more likely to clot, which can block blood flow to the heart and brain
• Damage cells that line the blood vessels
• Increase the buildup of plaque (fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances) in blood vessels
• Cause thickening and narrowing of blood vessels

Stroke is a major cause of death and disability in the United States. Many people are at high risk for this disease and don’t know it. The good news is that many risk factors for stroke can be prevented or controlled.

The federal government’s Million Hearts®external icon 2022 initiative aims to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes within five years. It’s important to know your risk for stroke and to take action to reduce that risk by recommending stroke rehabilitation which is an important part of recovery after stroke, the goal of rehabilitation is to help relearn skills lost when a part of the brain is damaged.   

Similarly, stroke rehabilitation can assist patients in regaining independence and improving their quality of life. Using the Robotic Rehabilitation Gloves (SIFREHAB-1.1) as an example, it is clear that: SIFREHAB-1.1 has a variety of functions, Studies have shown that single-finger training can significantly improve the rehabilitation effect, and more effective acupuncture for functional rehabilitation of damaged fingers is new hope for hand functional rehabilitation. During use, the patient can also set the flexion and extension times separately based on muscle tension to assist with finger flexion and extension.

As well, hand airwave massage therapy is another distinguishing feature of SIFREHAB-1.1 that serves as an aid in hand rehabilitation training. Massage for a few minutes before training can promote the circulation of blood and lymphatic tissues, accelerate the return of blood tissues, clear blocked blood vessels, promote blood circulation, and activate vascular cells; after training, it can improve cell vitality, absorption of body tissues, and promote the heart and brain blood vessels, thereby relieving soreness.

Therefore, The affected hand wears a recovery (rehabilitation) glove when in passive mode. Do flexion and extension training for 20 minutes each time, 2 to 4 times per day, under the direction of SIFREHAB-1.1.

And one of the least important functions of the SIFREHAB-1.1 is task-oriented training, in which the patient’s affected hand grasps the water bottle (or ball or others) on the table in front of him close to his mouth and replaces it; or close to another cup to pour water and replace it. Alternatively, while holding the door handle, try rotating it and pulling the door open. Do action training for 20 minutes each time, 2 to 4 times per day, in the context of daily home life.

The Versatile Automated Recovery Gloves make a difference for patients who are not able to go to physical treatment sessions at the healing center to do their rehabilitative preparation securely and independently at home on their own.

Still, the results suggest that smoking cessation later in life may help minimize disability and disruption to daily life after a stroke and going for rehabilitative therapy with high technology devices like mentioned before (SIFREHAB-1.1).

References : Preventing 1 Million Heart Attacks and Strokes, stroke Statistics