Passive smoking causes irreversible damage to children's arteries

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-03/esoc-psc030314.php

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 4-Mar-2014

Contact: Emma Mason
European Society of Cardiology

Passive smoking causes irreversible damage to children's arteries

Exposure to passive smoking in childhood causes irreversible damage to the structure of children's arteries, according to a study published online today (Wednesday) in the European Heart Journal [1].

The thickening of the arteries' walls associated with being exposed to parents' smoke, means that these children will be at greater risk of heart attacks and strokes in later life. The researchers from Tasmania, Australia and Finland say that exposure to both parents smoking in childhood adds an extra 3.3 years to the age of blood vessels when the children reach adulthood.

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