Tobacco control with Lubna Bhatti for the World Health Organisation

Tobacco control with Lubna Bhatti for the World Health Organisation

Carmen Lahiff-Jenkins spoke to Lubna Bhatti from the World Stroke Organisation 

The World Stroke Organization strongly endorses the efforts of the World Health Organisation to reduce tobacco-related illness and death

Stephen Davis and Valery Feigin, on behalf of the World Stroke Organization 

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability, particularly in low and middle-income regions. Smoking is a major modifiable risk factor for stroke, with similar risk in women and men. Smoking (both active and passive) has been known as one of the most important risk factors for stroke for many years. In the most recent Global Burden of Disease 2015 Study, smoking was ranked the 5th most important risk factor for stroke accounting globally for almost 26 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) (23%) due to stroke, with the bulk of the burden (almost 22 million DALYs or 85% of stroke-related DALYs due to smoking) born in low- to middle-income countries. Smoking accelerates atherosclerosis in the cerebral arteries, an important cause of stroke.