According to a recent news release from the American Heart Association, children exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to develop early warning signs of clogged arteries by age 13. These children were also found to be at a higher risk of other heart disease risk factors.
The study behind the news release, which will be published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, included 494 Finnish children, who researchers say are exposed to about the same amount of secondhand smoke as children in the U.S.
Led by study author Dr. Katariina Kallio, researchers looked at children who were exposed to secondhand smoke between ages 8 and 13. When compared to children who had not been exposed to secondhand smoke, these children were found to have a greater risk of thickening blood vessel walls, which can be a sign of clogging arteries. These children were also found to have higher levels of apolipoprotein B, which is known to contribute to LDL (bad) cholesterol.
Children should never be exposed to tobacco smoke, especially at a young age. According to the Mayo Clinic, children are more vulnerable than adults to secondhand smoke because their bodies are still developing and they normally have higher breathing rates. This means they may inhale greater quantities of secondhand smoke than adults. Pregnant women who smoke or are exposed to secondhand smoke increase their child’s risk of problems during and after birth.
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