Image source: Dailymail.co.uk
Smoking poses substantial
health risks not just to the smoker, but also to the people within his or her immediate
vicinity. Constant exposure to secondhand
smoke (SHS) can lead to heart disease and other cardiovascular ailments,
increasing the risks by up to 30 percent. However, not all heart disease patients know
about the harmful effects of SHS. A new
study submitted by specialists from the Tobacco Research and Treatment Center
at Boston’s Massachusetts General Hospital suggests that doctors assessing
heart disease patients should take into account the patients’ history of
exposure to SHS.
Image source: Ncsl.org
The researchers
interviewed 214 heart disease patients hospitalized at Massachusetts General
Hospital, with an emphasis on their history of smoke exposure. They found that 14 percent of the patients
lived with a smoker, while 20 percent have been exposed to SHS within a month prior
to hospital admission. The study further
notes that of those interviewed, only 37 remember the doctor inquiring about SHS.
“The findings of
this study make a strong case for the need to address secondhand smoke exposure
more effectively in inpatient cardiology practice,” the authors of the study
conclude. “Hospitals and healthcare
systems are missing an opportunity to identify and intervene in this major
modifiable cardiovascular risk factor.”
For a more detailed inquiry about the effects of SHS and how doctors can use SHS history in their diagnoses, a copy of the study is available here.
Dr. Steven Farber is a cardiologist, community leader, and public speaker. Find more insightful articles on cardiovascular health here.
