Parental smoking 'ages' children’s arteries

ConclusionOverall, this secondary analysis study provides preliminary evidence of the effects of parental passive smoking on the artery walls of children and adolescents in adulthood. The researchers attempted to adjust for potential factors that could influence risk (confounders), such as: age sex height weight smoking status physical activity levels alcohol consumption schooling level of the parent(s)In their analysis, they also took into consideration cardiovascular risk factors of the participants in adulthood. There are some limitations to the study, which are worth noting. Parental smoking status was self-reported and not objectively measured by the researchers, so there is a possibility that parents did not have accurately reported their actual smoking status. This is also the case for the reporting of the participants’ smoking status. The study was a secondary analysis of two larger cohort studies, so it’s likely that the cohorts themselves did not have the same outcome of interest as the current study. Despite these limitations, however, there is a substantial body of evidence that shows that passive smoking is harmful, especially when those involved are children. Tobacco smoke contains around 70 cancer causing chemicals and hundreds of other toxins.If you do choose to smoke, you should do it outside and well away from your children. There is plenty of free advice and treatment that could help you kick the habit.Analysis by Bazian. Edited...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Heart/lungs Pregnancy/child Source Type: news