Keep your home and car smoke-free, including for guests
The global estimate is around 600,000 deaths from secondhand smoke in a year, nearly 30% among children. Long-term exposure is associated with roughly 30% higher risks of hypertension, heart disease and stroke. Exposure at home appears more harmful than exposure elsewhere.
What it takes
Free and takes no extra time. The challenge is asking family and guests not to smoke indoors.
What you may gain
In 2004, secondhand smoke caused an estimated 603,000 deaths worldwide, about 1.0% of all deaths; 28% were children. Across 57 studies, exposure was associated with odds ratios of 1.28 for hypertension, 1.39 for heart disease, 1.50 for myocardial infarction and 1.36 for stroke. Cardiovascular risk was higher with household exposure than exposure outside the home.
Context & considerations
Start at home: people spend long periods there, and pooled research finds greater harm from household exposure. Children bear 61% of the associated healthy-life loss. For your own smoking, see quitting.
Research & references
Öberg M, Jaakkola MS, Woodward A, Peruga A, Prüss-Ustün A (2011). Worldwide burden of disease from exposure to second-hand smoke: a retrospective analysis of data from 192 countries. Lancet. Of an estimated 603,000 deaths in 2004, 47% were women, 28% children and 26% men; children bore 61% of disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) lost. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(10)61388-8 ; (2026). The Associations Between Secondhand Smoke Exposure and Various Cardiovascular Diseases: A Meta-Analysis. Nicotine & Tobacco Research. Across 57 studies: hypertension OR 1.28 (95% CI 1.15–1.40), heart disease 1.39 (1.28–1.50), myocardial infarction 1.50 (1.17–1.84), stroke 1.36 (1.18–1.54); home exposure carried greater cardiovascular risk than non-home exposure. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntaf111