Why doctors should check for secondhand smoke exposure when treating heart disease patients

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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. 

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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.  

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“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.