Smoking at Home Risks Health of Loved Ones

People who smoke put the health of their loved ones at risk. It cannot be stated often enough or clearly enough that smoking tobacco is harmful to the health of people around the smoker. A new study has shown that second hand smoke in the home puts people at risk for heart attack.

In a press statement on Wiley-Blackwell, titled "Smokers putting their loved ones at risk of heart attacks," the researchers reported that people who live with a person who smokes in the home are at higher risk of a heart attack.

Smoking restrictions in the workplace and in public places has lessened the number of people exposed to second hand smoke outside the home. However, the people who live with a smoker have an even higher risk than before, probably because more smokers are smoking at home instead of outside the home.

Most smokers would never intentionally harm their spouse, children and family members, but by smoking in the home; they are putting their loved ones at risk for serious health problems.

Smoke Exposure Study

The new study, conducted in England, measured the recent tobacco smoke exposure in men who were not smokers that were participants in the British Regional Heart Study. The study was conducted by researchers at University of London and University College London and St. George's.

Researchers measured a compound in the blood called cotinine, which is associated with heart attack risk. The blood measurements were taken 20 years apart. In the 1978 to 1980 time period 73% of the men's level of continine was above 0.7 ng/mL, a 40% increase in the risk of heart attack. In the 1998 to 2000 time period, the percentage of men with the elevated level had dropped to 17%.

Fewer men overall had an elevated cotinine level, but men who lived with a smoker had a level that was almost double the previous measurement. This increased level, an average of 1.39ng/mL, elevating risk to nearly eight times higher than men who did not live with smoking partners.

During the time period of the study there have been changes in cigarette smoking habits in workplaces and public places. Smoking restrictions in public spaces have reduced the exposure of second hand smoke exposure.

In addition, the number of cigarettes smoked per smoker dropped from 114 to 97 per week, on average.

People are not being exposed to second hand smoke as often as they used to be. However, the highly increased levels in the men who live with a smoking partner may indicate that many smokers are smoking at home more heavily.

Dr. Barbara Jefferis of University College London stated that the restrictions on public smoking decreased the exposure of non-smokers to tobacco smoke. The result is that the number of non-smokers at an elevated risk of heart attack because of exposure to second hand tobacco has dropped.

Jefferis went on the state that people who lived in a home with a smoker are at increased heart attack risk.

In order to reduce the risk to non-smokers even further, efforts need to be directed at reducing cigarette smoking at home. Public education about the hazards of second hand smoke to loved ones can help.

This research is encouraging in that it shows that overall exposure to second hand smoke has fallen. On the other hand, people who are exposed to smoke in their house are at even higher risk than before.

Resources:

Wiley-Blackwell: Smokers putting their loved ones at risk of heart attacks. February 11,2009. EurekAlert.

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