Earlier this month, we, along with colleagues at Mount Sinai Medical Center and FAMRI, published and presented the findings of research seeking to understand any connections that might exist between exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke and coronary artery calcification ("hardening" of the arteries that allow blood to flow to the heart).
This study found that there is, in fact, a clear connection between how much exposure one has to secondhand tobacco smoke, and their likely amount of coronary artery calcification. You can read our press release for more information on our findings.
We are very happy to see that media outlets around the world have picked up this story and shared our results with their audiences. Here are a few online sources for additional commentary:
- Science Daily: Secondhand Smoke Exposure Linked to Signs of Heart Disease: Exposure to Tobacco Smoke May be More Dangerous Than Previously Thought
- US News and World Report: Secondhand Smoke Linked to Early Heart Disease, Study Finds
- Medpage Today: ACC: Secondhand Smoke Increases Coronary Calcium
- Medpage Today: Secondhand Smoke Riskier than Cholesterol
- JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging: Second-Hand Tobacco Smoke in Never Smokers Is a Significant Risk Factor for Coronary Artery Calcification
- ZeeNews: Beware nonsmokers! Secondhand smoke can trigger heart disease
This research was funded by the Flight Attendant Medical Research Institute (FAMRI), and is ongoing. Click here to learn about our work with FAMRI, and whether you might qualify for a free low-dose lung CT scan.