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Secondhand smoke damages blood vessels quickly

Posted on Sep 4th 2008 9:30PM by Chris Sparling

Filed Under: Healthy Habits, Womens Health, HealthWatch, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Men's Health

About a month and a half ago, while I was out in Wisconsin, I was surprised to find that smoking is still allowed in restaurants. Being a native New Englander who has also lived in California -- where smoking in restaurants and bars has been banned for quite some time -- my personal knowledge of smoking bans caused me to be somewhat presumptive in thinking this was a nationwide trend. No offense to Wisconsin (or any other states that don't have a restaurant/bar smoking ban) ... but shouldn't it be?

If you take a recent Women's Health article on the topic of secondhand smoke into consideration, it's hard to argue against such a suggestion. According to said article, it takes thirty minutes or less for secondhand smoke to damage blood vessels and increase your risk of cardiovascular disease. Even such brief exposure disrupts normal expansion and contraction of blood vessels -- and it destroys EPCs, cells that help repair the arterial lining.

Look, I'm all in favor of people having the right to live their life without too much government interference. But, people eating at a restaurant also have the right to not have secondhand smoke destroy their blood vessels. While it's true that these folks could always eat somewhere else if the smoke bothers them, frankly, shouldn't it be the smokers who should go somewhere else?

Your thoughts?

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Tags: chris sparling, ChrisSparling, exercise, fitness, health, secondhand smoke, SecondhandSmoke, smoking, wisconsin

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

bikelady 9-04-2008 @ 10:26PM

Actually, there is no statewide smoking ordinance, but several cities in Wisconsin have inacted restaurant (and bar) anti-smoking laws. I live near Madison, WI and we have a great one. Middleton, Appleton, and a few other cities have them too. A statewide law was proposed in a recent session of the state legislature but not passed. I'm sure it will be introduced again.

David puffer 9-04-2008 @ 10:28PM

I'm surprised that more states haven't imposed a similar ban. I smoke, but in the comfort of my own home and not in front of, or near places where it would annoy. With such a large number of smokers in financial district in Boston, it's quite annoying while going into a bar only to walk into a cloud of smoke. Places should really and try install those smoke absorbing, communal ash trays. There are two in front of the Prudential Center near the Cheesecake Factory and they have really helped with the smoke and smell.

Kevin 9-05-2008 @ 5:47AM

What I find the most appalling, not so much that its legal, but that people would be inconsiderate enough to do it, is that there are quite a few people who insist on smoking, while walking around the local jogging track. I feel that it is so counterproductive to them, and everyone putting out some effort there.

Cat Advice 9-07-2008 @ 7:42AM

I think government should take this thing in a serious way . They should really end smoking in public places and they should also arrest people who do so. Smoking in public places is really bad and this can harm people who don;'t smoke and these people also include kids..
http://cat-advice.com/

Nancy 9-11-2008 @ 8:51PM

smoking around other people should be considered a crime, by causing harm voluntarily to other people that may have a difficult time avoiding it. It is not my choice to go out for a walk or to a restaurant and inhale somebodies second hand smoke that happens to walk by or is sitting a few tables away. How can I avoid it? Hold my breath? Smoking around other people is an imposition and selfish reckless behavior.