The disastrous smoking habits of the Irish have been highlighted in two new studies — we are far more prone than other Europeans to continue smoking after suffering a stroke and one in 10 of us cut back on food to fund our craving.
A study by the Health Research Board (HRB) found post-stroke smoking rates are double those in Europe, despite the fact that a quarter of strokes are caused by smoking.
The study found that an alarming 58% of smokers continued to smoke six months after stroke compared to a European rate of 29%.
The findings, released on the eve of World No Tobacco Day, have prompted the Irish Health Foundation (IHF) to call on the health service to do everything in its power to get smokers to quit.
IHF medical director Dr Angie Browne said while smoking rates in Ireland had fallen to an all-time low of 22%, more needed to be done to help those who had suffered serious cardiovascular events, such as stroke, to quit.
“Continuing to smoke after stroke is extremely dangerous and patients not only risk undoing the hard work of their recovery — which often involves lengthy rehabilitation — but they are risking their lives and may not see their next birthday a year later because of their addiction,” Dr Browne warned.
Source: Catherine Shanahan, Irish Examiner, 30/05/14
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