'STUB it out' is the message from The Stroke Association for No Smoking Day.

The charity, which has just produced a new fact sheet entitled Smoking and Stroke, is urging Journal readers to reduce their chance of having a stroke by stubbing out their cigarettes for good as part of the annual day.

A lot of people think only of cancer and heart disease as the health risks associated with smoking, but a quarter of all strokes, which is the country's single biggest cause of death and disability, are directly caused by smoking.

Smokers are three times more likely to suffer a stroke than non-smokers and the charity is hoping that No Smoking day, on Wednesday, March 14 will provide an ideal opportunity for people to kick the habit.

As well as smokers being at a higher risk of having a stroke, research now also shows there is a link between passive smoking and stroke.

To get a copy of the free Smoking and Stroke fact sheet, call the Stroke Information Service on 0845 30 33 100.

Sue Knight

The Stroke Association

London