Chip Simons

Secondhand Smoke Exposure Raises Kindergartners’ Blood Pressure

It’s no secret that second hand smoke poses serious health hazards, but the damage can be especially insidious among children, setting them up for possible heart disease later in life.

Study: 99% of Children Living in Apartments May Be Exposed to Secondhand Smoke

David Young-Wolff

There are fewer and fewer places where smokers can light up these days, with smoking bans being instituted by governments and private companies in virtually every public place, from offices and airplanes to bars and restaurants.

600,000

Number of yearly deaths worldwide due to secondhand smoke, according to the World Health Organization's first assessment of the global health impact of passive tobacco exposure [via Reuters]

Declines in U.S. Smoking Rates Remain Stalled at 20%

REUTERS/JP Moczulski

For the fifth year in a row, the decline in smoking rates among adult Americans remains stalled. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 20% of adults still smoke, a figure that hasn’t changed since 2005.