Smoking in Croatia

[2] By 2015, that number had remained stable, with 27.5% of the population being regular smokers, and 3.6% claiming to smoke occasionally.

Smokers above the age of 65 reflect the general trend, with more men smoking than women.

Smoking affects the circulatory system in a number of ways: it raises the level of certain fats, and impairs the release of prostacyclin which regulates the vascular smooth muscle.

Furthermore, the intake of 4000 different chemicals and the decreased blood oxygen level contributes to atherogenesis.

The relative risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage with long-term heavy smokers (>20 cigarettes a day) is 7.3, compared to those who never smoked.

The relative risk of an ischemic stroke 2.7 with heavy smokers and 2.2 with those who smoke less than 20 cigarettes a day.

Since 2007, it has implemented the "Quit and Win" health action on a national level, where it rewards heavy smokers who give up cigarettes for a period of four weeks.