Coronary artery calcification, a build-up of calcium in the artery walls as seen on a low-dose computed tomography scan, is a marker of heart disease. Harvey Hecht, from Mount Sinai Medical Center (New York, USA), and colleagues found that 26% of people exposed to varying levels of secondhand smoke exhibited signs of coronary artery calcification, as compared to 18.5% in the general population. As well, people who report higher levels of secondhand tobacco smoke exposure also have the greatest evidence of coronary artery calcification. The lead researcher comments that: “This research provides additional evidence that secondhand smoke is harmful and may be even more dangerous than we previously thought … We actually found the risk of secondhand smoke exposure to be an equivalent or stronger risk factor [for coronary artery calcification] than other well-established ones such as high cholesterol, hypertension and diabetes. Passive exposure to smoke seems to independently predict both the likelihood and extent of [coronary artery calcification].”
Health Consequences of Secondhand Tobacco Smoke
Non-smokers who are exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke are more likely to develop early signs of heart disease.
Harvey S. Hecht, David Yankelewitz, Claudia Henschke, Rowena Yip, Paolo Boffetta, Shemesh Shemesh, Matthew Cham, Jagat Narula. “Secondhand Tobacco Smoke in Never Smokers Is A Significant Risk Factor for Coronary Artery Calcification." Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Volume 61, Issue 10, Supplement, 12 March 2013, Page E1422.
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