Teenagers exposed to secondhand smoke longer than an hour a day are more likely to report various health issues, a new study by the University of Cincinnati has found.
The research found they suffer shortness of breath, difficulty exercising compared with peers, wheezing during or after exercise, a dry cough at night, visits to the hospital or an urgent care center, and missed school because of illness, according to ABC News.
Dr. Ashley Merianos, lead author of the study published in the journal Pediatrics, told ABC her team reviewed data from 7,300 non-smoking teens, ages 12 to 17 and without asthma, from the 2017 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' report on tobacco and health.
They found more than one-third of group were around peers who smoked for at least one hour a day for the past seven days, including time at home, in a car, at school or outdoors, ABC said.
"[Teens] should be educated on the importance of [secondhand smoke] elimination to increase their overall health and wellness, especially because they may not be receiving preventive care elsewhere," the authors of the study wrote.
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