A recent study reveals that the risk of stroke more than doubles for African Americans who engage in smoking, in contrast to their nonsmoking counterparts.
Lead author Adebamike Oshunbade stated, “That risk becomes higher as the number of cigarettes smoked per day increases. The more you smoke, the more you stroke.” Oshunbade, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson and a fellow at the American Heart Association’s Tobacco Regulation and Addiction Center, conveyed this message through a news release.
The investigation delved into over a decade’s worth of data from participants in the Jackson Heart Study, the most extensive cardiovascular risk assessment among African Americans in the United States. This comprehensive study encompassed 5,306 participants aged between 21 and 84.
Published this week in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the study determined that the risk of stroke was 2.5 times greater for current smokers compared to those who never smoked. Moreover, the quantity of daily cigarettes consumed made a discernible difference. For individuals who smoked one to 19 cigarettes a day, the risk increased by 2.3 times, while those who smoked more than 20 experienced a 2.8 times higher risk.
“We also assessed the extent of fatty plaque buildup in the carotid arteries of African American smokers by a non-invasive procedure called carotid intima media thickness,” Oshunbade elucidated. “We found accelerated buildup of fatty plaques in some of the major blood vessels of the brains of smokers, which could play a role in the development of stroke among African Americans.”
The outcomes of the study underscore the necessity for tailored health initiatives aimed at African Americans. Oshunbade emphasized, “Our findings support public health initiatives directed toward smoking cessation, especially among vulnerable groups like African Americans. This is particularly important because these populations have been targeted by tobacco companies.”
