Second-hand smoke boosts heart attack

Heart attack survivors are more likely to suffer further heart problems if they are regularly exposed to second-hand smoke. Individuals hospitalised for a heart attack or a severe type of chest pain called unstable angina are more likely to have another so-called acute coronary event during the subsequent 30 days if they reported being exposed to other people's cigarette smoke Taking into account that the risk of recurrent events in people who have had a cardiac event is much higher during the first 30 days after the event, chronic exposure to second-hand smoke seems to add significantly to the excess risk. Researchers from the Harokopio University in Athens, Greece, followed 2,172 patients admitted to six hospitals for a heart attack or unstable angina. Forty-six percent reported being exposed to second-hand smoke on the job or at home. Eight percent of those not exposed to second hand smoke had a second acute coronary event within 30 days of the first, compared to 11 percent of those who were exposed to other people's cigarette smoking. When the researchers accounted for other risk factors, they found second-hand smoke exposure increased the risk of a second heart attack or severe angina by 61 percent - and the effect was about twice as strong in people who were smokers themselves, compared to non-smokers. Also, in 45% of episodes of a second heart problem was directly caused by exposure to the smoke. Exposure to cigarette smoke on the job was riskier than at-home exposure, more than doubling the risk of a second episode of heart problems. Based on the above, heart patients would be best advised to stay away from second hand smoke as well.