Half of black
nonsmokers are exposed to secondhand smoke, including 2 of every 3 black children, More than 3 in 10
nonsmokers with less than a high school education are exposed to secondhand smoke, More than 7 in 10
nonsmokers living with someone who smokes inside the home are exposed to secondhand smoke.
Among the estimated 58.0 million
nonsmokers who were exposed to secondhand smoke during 2013-2014, approximately 36.7 million were adults, 9.1 million were adolescents, and 14.0 million were children.
The current research attempted to conduct a more detailed study of attitudes toward smokers using the IRAP with both adult and adolescent smokers and
nonsmokers. Study 1 used the IRAP and self-report measures to investigate social attitudes toward smokers and
nonsmokers in adults.
Editor's Note: "Additional large, well-conducted studies are needed to clarify whether metformin may be used to prevent lung or other cancers, particularly in specific subpopulations, such as
nonsmokers," said Sakoda.
During a median study period of about 4 years, rates of death from all causes were 7.9 per 1000 person-years among smokers and 4.2 per 1000 person-years among
nonsmokers. (A rate of 7.9 per 1000 person-years means about 8 of every 1000 people died every year.) Statistical analysis comparing smokers with
nonsmokers determined that smokers had a twice higher death rate (mortality rate ratio 1.94) (Figure 1).
This means that socioeconomic status alone does not account for the differences in emotional health between smokers and
nonsmokers; rather there is something else about being a smoker that relates to having worse emotional health.
Studies have shown an association between cigarette smoking and an increased rate of Type 2 diabetes despite the fact that most smokers are leaner than
nonsmokers and obesity is a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes.
The researchers found that those who smoked one to two packs a day had a 44% higher risk of dementia later in life compared with
nonsmokers, and those who smoked a half pack to one pack daily had a 37% higher risk.
Punjabi and his colleagues compared the sleep architecture of smokers with that of a matched group of
nonsmokers, all of whom underwent home polysomnography.
And for those smug
nonsmokers clinging to fantasies of a life eternal, I close by quoting Bill Hicks: "Are you ready?
Cigarette smoke contains thousands of dangerous chemicals that are unhealthy for both smokers and
nonsmokers. Secondhand smoke refers to the smoke from the burning end of a cigarette and the smoke exhaled by smokers.
Research conducted in academic settings has indicated that both high school and college students, and high school and college faculty members (including smokers and
nonsmokers alike), hold a more negative view of smokers than
nonsmokers (Brosh, et al., 2003; Outten, et al., 2003).
