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Smoking and the
Brain |
| The brain is your body’s centre for mood
and conscious thought. It controls most of your voluntary movements
and makes thinking and feeling possible. It also regulates unconscious
body processes, such as digestion and breathing. Arteries leading
from the heart and lungs carry oxygen and other chemicals to the brain.
Smoking a cigarette sends chemicals to the brain, changing its chemistry,
and affecting a smoker’s mood. Nicotine reaches the brain ten
seconds after smoke is inhaled. |
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What happens when you
have a stroke?
The image on the upper left of the illustration shows a dark area
of dead tissue from a stroke. On the lower right is healthy brain
tissue. A stroke occurs when blood flow to an area of your brain is
cut off. Blockage or breakage of blood vessels or arteries causes
a stroke. Without blood supply, brain cells start to die, leading
to loss of function in that part of your brain. A serious stroke can
lead to permanent damage, including memory loss, loss of speech, paralysis
or even death. |
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BENEFITS OF QUITTING (BRAIN)
The risk of stroke decreases steadily after a smoker quits. Five to
15 years after quitting, the risk of stroke is reduced to that of
someone who has never smoked. |
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Information and illustrations from U.S. Surgeon General’s report
May 2004
Information sheet designed by Ray Foan Stop Smoking Service Manager
Wokingham Primary Care Trust
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