Most nonsmokers try hard to avoid secondhand smoke. Continuing research in this area confirms the benefits of breathing air unpolluted by cigarette smoke at work, at other public places such as restaurants, and at home.
Research at the University of California shows that as little as 30 minutes of exposure to secondhand smoke reduces the function of coronary arteries (endothelial dysfunction). In fact, after 30 minutes of exposure to secondhand smoke, the endothelium (lining of the arteries) functions at the same level as that of a regular smoker.
Endothelial dysfunction of the artery may be a primary cause of atherosclerosis, a disease process that clogs and hardens the arteries and can lead to a heart attack. Dysfunctional cells of the endothelium contribute to the constriction of arteries, clogging of arteries, and blood clot formation. In other words, it leads to the creation of coronary artery disease, which can lead to a heart attack.
This helps explain why regular exposure to cigarette smoke causes a 30% increased risk of cardiac disease or death. The danger of passive smoking is as high as one-third the effect of active smoking even though the actual dose of cigarette smoke is much less than for a smoker.
Studies on secondhand smoke have found the following dangers:
- A 30-minute exposure to secondhand smoke increases the likelihood of platelets clotting at a rate similar to regular smokers.
- A 30-minute exposure to secondhand smoke causes dysfunction of the lining of the arteries, similar to the effect in regular smokers, hastening coronary artery disease.
- Animal studies show that regular exposure to secondhand smoke from only one cigarette a day induces changes in arteries that lead to heart disease.
- Secondhand smoke is estimated to be responsible for 37,000 deaths from heart disease and 53,000 total deaths each year in the United States.
The authors of this University of California study conclude that "Everyone should be protected from even short-term exposure to the toxins in secondhand smoke. Not only will people breathe easier, but they will have healthier hearts." |
