Your stroke risk increases if your partner smokes

According to a study from the Journal of Preventive Medicine, being married to someone who is a smoker can increase your risk of stroke by 42%. The good news is that if your partner quits smoking, the risk of stroke decreases for both of you. The researchers used a national sample of more than 16,000 Americans, aged 50 and older, and their spouses. They assessed the smoking status of both partners at the beginning the study as well as nine years later, when they also checked how many participants had strokes during that time. Compared to being married to someone who never smoked, those married to a current smoker had a 42% increased risk of stroke. For former smokers, being married to a current smoker was associated with a 72% increased risk. Being married to a former smoker or a non-smoker did not increase risk of stroke. Heart and Stroke Foundation