[Cigarette smoking and alcohol abuse effects on stroke development]

Cigarette smoking, alcohol abuse and stroke--the material consisted of 272 patients (169 men and 103) women aged between 25-65 years. There were 221 patients with ischemic stroke and 51 patients with haemorrhagic stroke. The control group consisted of 400 healthy subject of the same age and sex. In the stroke group excessive consumption of alcohol was reported by 61 patients (5 women and 56 men). Excessive smoking was reported by 130 patients (41 women and 89 men). It was found in both types of stroke alcohol was not an independent risk factor. In addition, the study revealed that alcohol and cigarette smoking did not increase the risk of developing stroke in patients with diabetes and hypertension. Excessive cigarette smoking was found however, to be an independent risk factor in haemorrhagic stroke.