The information on this page looks at how stopping smoking can reduce your risk of a stroke and has tips to help you quit smoking.

It’s thought that smokers are around three times more likely to have a stroke than non-smokers. And the more you smoke, the bigger your chance of a stroke.

Giving up smoking is not an easy thing to do. But it’s one of the best things you can do to help you stay healthy and reduce your risk of another stroke. As soon as you quit, your risk of a stroke starts to go down. Within a few years, your risk is similar to a non-smoker.

You do not have to do it alone. Free help and advice are available to all smokers in the UK and we have tips to help you quit.

How does smoking cause stroke?

Tobacco smoke contains over 7,000 toxic chemicals, including nicotine, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, arsenic and cyanide. When you breathe smoke, the chemicals enter your bloodstream, changing and damaging cells all around your body.

Smoking can:

Conditions such as high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation and high cholesterol all increase your stroke risk.

What happens when you quit?

  1. The benefits start right away. Your oxygen levels return to normal, and carbon monoxide and nicotine levels reduce by more than half within eight hours. (Carbon monoxide is a poison because it reduces the oxygen going to your body and brain.)
  2. You’ll notice the difference within 48 hours as your ability to taste and smell improves.
  3. In a few days, your breathing becomes easier and your energy levels go up.
  4. After 12 weeks, blood will be pumping to your heart and muscles more efficiently.
  5. Between three and nine months, any coughing and wheezing should ease and your lung function improves by up to 10%.
  6. After one year, your risk of a heart attack is half that of a smoker.
  7. After about five years, your risk of having a stroke can be around the same as someone who has never smoked.

Should I quit smoking or cut down?

Your risk of a stroke goes down the less you smoke. But even smoking one cigarette per day still gives you a significantly higher risk of stroke than if you do not smoke at all. That’s why you’ll be advised to try quitting.

Read more tips to help you quit and how to manage cravings and stay healthy after stopping smoking.

Vaping has become popular in recent years. Nicotine is extracted from tobacco and inhaled as a vapour through an electronic device called an e-cigarette or vape. Some people use e-cigarettes when trying to give up traditional cigarettes, and others use them as a substitute. 

They are less harmful than cigarettes, but they are not completely safe, and we do not know enough yet about long-term effects. The healthiest option is to aim to give up using tobacco products entirely.  

Visit the NHS website to find out more about e-cigarettes and stopping smoking.

Smoking a waterpipe (shisha) can deliver far more nicotine, smoke and harmful chemicals in a session than smoking a cigarette. The British Heart Foundation has more information on waterpipes and health risks.

Resources available

This guide explains the link between smoking and stroke and offers some practical tips for quitting. It explains some of the stop-smoking methods you can try, like using stop-smoking services, nicotine replacement therapy and e-cigarettes. It also lists some organisations that can help you on your journey to quitting. 

To view all our resources, visit our resources area.

Written and edited by
Jenny Simpson , Jonathan Jones , Gemma Harris