[0:15] ..." Care treatment diagnosis and prevention from the resources of Roswell Park Cancer Institute a comprehensive cancer treatment and research facility in Buffalo, New York. I'm Tim Wenger in this week the subject of second hand smoke and the more we're learning about its dangers and impacts on health in general. My guest in studio today doctor Andrew highland he's a research scientists department of health behavior division of cancer prevention. And population sciences at Roswell Park Cancer Institute doctor highland thank you so much for being here thank you for inviting me send thank you well it is important subject indeed and I mean. We I don't think you can go a day without hearing something about secondhand smoke and usually the associated dangers. And the institute of medicine has conducted some new users. As part of what what is."...

[1:09] ..." medicine has put together a review of but. The evidence really that secondhand smoke. And whether or not it causes. Two -- cardiac disease. So they've reviewed a bunch of sort of basic science studies -- really looking at. The you know is it plausible this exposure to this you know compound secondhand smoke can't really can cause heart attacks I was really the first component. And then the second component. Was to. Assess whether or not places that have passed smoke free laws -- like me here in New York State where you can't smoke and indoor workplaces restaurants bars. If there are if there's enough evidence to indicate that they're -- fewer heart attacks in those places. What did fine. I'm entered found an awful lot but it means some key findings of this this. Research in -- yeah I think a key finding is yes secondhand smoke causes side heart disease. And yes there's evidence to show that up places that have passed comprehensive smoke free laws. Have pure heart attacks and those places. So -- sort of the basic evidence that secondhand smoke causes heart disease you're looking at exposure. To smoke. It basically causes your platelets to get stickier. And for the some people who are sort of pre disposed. To be on their way. Maybe at risk of via by cardiac event. Sometimes that extra second hand smoke exposure is enough to push them over the -- And and then here in New York for example we did one of the studies that. We looked at the rates of -- heart disease before and after the smoke free law and we somebody percent fewer. Our heart attacks which is consistent with the institute of medicine recommendations and their conclusions."...

[2:58] ..." I think one of the first things we gotta do is defined secondhand smoke okay you know we're in this room together if I were laid at the cigarette but I won't. You know what we areas where it's secondhand smoke begin and end where rate next to someone smoking were in the backseat where some of smoking the same room in the"...

[3:17] ..." Yet that's a great question I think you know secondhand smoke is the smoke that comes off the burning and the cigarette and it's also the stuff that smoker's exhale out of their"...

[4:06] ..." whole. Throughout the whole. Home. So why you know where exactly does secondhand smoke start -- I think we know where it starts it starts at the burning cigarette. And where it is and and that"...

[5:19] ..." smoking. Not saying it always does how long does it take for secondhand smoke to make an impact human."...

[7:10] ..." biologically plausible does it does it make sort of scientific sense that secondhand smoke. Causes heart disease. And then that the and then the studies that looked. Sort of the real world evidence -- you know this was so bad -- discussed so many heart attacks and the places that went smoke free like New York we should see fewer heart attacks fewer deaths fewer hospital admissions. Different ways to measure so those -- that the the the two areas they've reviewed what other"...

[8:15] ..." they've reviewed all the studies. And in their conclusion was side. Yes secondhand smoke causes heart disease what what kind of ruled that you never did Roswell and in assembly all of this. In regard to -- so our team that Russell parker secondhand smoke for search team. Helped contribute one of the eleven studies. That the institute of medicine reviewed. Looking at our rates of heart attacks in places that had adopted smoke free. Regulations so here in New York State it's and since July 2003. Groups statewide law that said. No smoking in indoor workplaces. Workplaces so -- the studio smoke free bars and restaurants are smoke free this is a loss statewide. At the time that was really groundbreaking New York was only the third state. Two implements such -- for regulations and we really went into it to say you know there's some evidence to show that heart attacks are gonna go down. And can't fit if this stuff is really so bad we should be able told look at that"...

[9:41] ..." The average population in May be exposed to the average amount of secondhand smoke what kind of dangerous there. Versus someone who lately with the a spouse who's a smoker in his is more closely exposed. To secondhand smoke I guess I'm asking you to characterize. That you know does it matter if it's you know some of them lives in"...

[10:10] ..." Yeah in that 2006 the surgeon general did a report just on secondhand smoke and the conclusion there was there's no safe level a secondhand smoke exposure. The evidence is clear that debate is over or that the some of the quotes are no safe level exposure to secondhand smoke so. Are are you if you're exposed a little bit are you at risk yes -- if you are you exposed if you're exposed a lot are you a greater risk. The answer is probably yes. To that question to. So I think that as and average listener out there they should be looking. If they're looking to minimize their risks they should be looking to eliminate their exposure to secondhand smoke so that means and out in the home setting. So if there's a -- that lives in the home. Either taken outside."...

[11:51] ..." is really what can average individual do to minimize their risk of secondhand smoke exposure. And tie it should be to try to eliminate their exposure to remove those sources so if -- at home on"...

[13:56] ..." people out there just in listening to this we certainly know that secondhand smoke exposure is not. Good and there are ill effects to it. What actually happens okay long term exposure to secondhand smoke. What physically. Takes place within the user and he waited and explain."...

[15:42] ..." Control estimates somewhere forty to forty. 50000 deaths a year attributable to secondhand smoke in about 95% of that is from heart disease and you know just that simple. Simple explanation of what happens is that really a double whammy is you've got. I carbon monoxide going on to your breathing in the east these particles. Covenant oxides of kind of robs the the body of oxygen so your -- got to work your heart has to pump a little bit harder. 21 to feed your muscles and to feed your body the other factor going on inside. The -- secondhand smoke exposure tends to make your blood platelets stickier. So they can you get more -- happening and it's you know like a"...

[17:44] ..." there are just fine particles. It is in our study in Western New York bars and restaurants was exceeded by the majority of bars and restaurants. Is -- worse rating so hazardous quote unquote hazardous. Basically"...

[18:58] ..." the study started to come out and I. You know much higher lung cancer rates and -- who were married to nonsmokers really it's a critical study in the early 1980 sides certainly general's reports began"...

[22:07] ..." them quickly smoke free spaces smoke free bars workplaces. Our effective tool. New York is done a lot of what it can do there's there's still some additional. Carriers areas that they could move but and we should be doing that helping to support others and and inform and educate others on. What you look really looking at some some basic things like. Making it. The more expensive price increases price changes are one of those guys passed. Deterrents to -- to use and die here in New York we have. Of relatively high cigarette excise tax how -- we also have a problem that. A lot of that taxes and"...

[23:46] ..." more former smokers and our current smokers. And resources such as a New York State smokers quit line. He can get free starter kits of nicotine replacement therapy and I quick counselors. To help them. Through"...

[24:16] ..." or so would have their level of concern raised over. Exposure to secondhand smoke so there's smoker in their life were there a smoker. Themselves they want that person to quit. Is -- best way I"...

[25:43] ..." found. Very effective and and clinical trials. Support such as to the New York State smokers quit find. Either telephonic counseling -- web based registration for some free nicotine replacement therapy. Can all help. But unfortunately"...

[26:49] ..." health behavior division. Of cancer prevention and population sciences at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. You wanna find out more about this second hand smoke issue or any issue we've discussed on the program previously."...