Female Smokers Found To Be At Higher Risk Of Suffering Brain Bleeds

  • 8 years ago
New research appearing in ‘Stroke,’ a publication from the American Heart Association, suggests brain bleeds occur most often in female smokers.

New research appearing in ‘Stroke,’ a publication from the American Heart Association, suggests brain bleeds occur most often in female smokers. 

Compared to their male counterparts, women experience the condition, also called subarachnoid hemorrhage, up to roughly 2 ½ times more often. 

The study, funded by the Department of Public Health at the University of Helsinki, involved reviewing data from over 65,000 Finnish survey participants. 

On average, the age of those targeted was 45. 

The team was not able to determine why women experienced increased vulnerability, but did learn that quitting the smoking habit drastically reduced risk. 

After being tobacco-free for 6 months, men and women alike were in no greater danger of brain bleeds than non-smokers. 

Said one of the researchers, “There is no safe level of smoking. Naturally the best option is never to start. Quitting smoking, however, can reduce the risk for subarachnoid hemorrhage in both sexes."  

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