Darrius Moore is public health program specialist supervisor in the Office of Tobacco Control at the Mississippi State Department of Health. He says one group in particular is affected by strokes.
“That would be smokers,” he said. “Anyone that smokes cigarettes or smokes any type of tobacco products is at risk.”
According to the American Lung Association, Mississippi has the fifth highest rate of smokers in the nation. Moore says even those inhaling secondhand smoke face an increased risk of health issues.
“Carbon monoxide is deposited in the bloodstream through that,” he said.
Moore says inhaling the chemicals found in tobacco products can contribute to breathing issues, higher blood pressure and the risks of blood clots - all factors that can lead to a stroke.
“If you're having an increased amount of blood flow just rushing through your blood vessels, that could eventually lead to a rupture or a burst,” he said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, strokes can cause brain damage, long-term disability, or even death. The CDC also found that Black men in the South have some of the highest rates of death from stroke. Moore says recognizing the signs of a stroke quickly is important.
“There used to be an acronym called FAST,” he said. “F stood for face drooping. A was arm weakness. S is for speech difficulty and T was time to call 911.”
Moore adds that numbness, confusion, blurred vision, slurred speech, loss of balance and headache can also be signs of a stroke. He says the best thing a smoker can do to protect themselves is to quit smoking.
“Any form of quitting is helpful and beneficial,” he said.
May is stroke awareness month.
