Smoking habit led to unexpected stroke for man spending £200 a month

A 42-year-old man experienced a transient ischemic attack that medical staff reported was linked to long-term smoking and an inherited blood disorder; he later quit smoking with support from an NHS-funded stop-smoking programme and reported improvements in his symptoms and circulation.

A 42-year-old man from Cardiff suffered a transient ischemic attack after noticing sudden numbness and slurred speech at home. He and his partner went to hospital, where clinicians identified the event as a TIA. Doctors reported that his long-term smoking and an underlying blood condition, polycythemia, raised his risk. He later joined an NHS-funded stop-smoking service and stopped smoking. Key facts: - The episode involved sudden left-side weakness and difficulty speaking, described in the article as a transient ischemic attack. - Medical staff reported that long-term smoking and the inherited blood disorder polycythemia were factors increasing stroke risk. - The man and his partner used an NHS-funded Help Me Quit stop-smoking programme; the article says he reported improvements after quitting. Summary: The TIA prompted the individual to stop smoking and the article reports health improvements linked to that change; clinicians identified smoking and polycythemia as contributing factors. Undetermined at this time.