Secondhand Smoke Hikes Tots’ Risk of Heart Disease

A new research suggests that secondhand smoke causes signs of cardiovascular damage in children, especially the very youngest. The findings, which focused on children from 2 to 14 years old, showed that environmental exposure to second-hand smoke caused increased markers of inflammation and signs of vascular injury, suggesting an increased risk of heart disease.

Results of the study were to be presented Thursday at the American Heart Association’s Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention meeting, in Colorado Springs.