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Health & Fitness

10 Years Without Secondhand Smoke

New York State enacted the Clean Indoor Air Act 10 years ago today to protect workers from secondhand smoke and help reduce smoking rates. The law bans smoking in workplaces and entertainment/leisure venues—saving nonsmokers from inhaling unwanted tobacco smoke and preventing millions of New Yorkers from developing smoking-related illness. 

Eliminating smoking indoors is the only way to protect adults and children fully from secondhand smoke. Exposure to secondhand smoke affects about 22 million children and 126 million adults in the US. For children, it contributes to increased ear infections, more frequent and severe asthma attacks, and the development of bronchitis and pneumonia. Secondhand smoke also puts newborns at greater risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Exposure to secondhand smoke puts adults at increased risk for heart disease and lung cancer. 

Despite the 10-year success of the Clean Indoor Air Act, smoking still kills more than 25,000 New Yorkers each year and remains the leading cause of preventable death in the US. Furthermore, New York State’s smoking-related healthcare costs are $8 billion every year–including $5.4 billion in Medicaid expenses. 

We can help you stop smoking or find information about healthcare provider services. Call North Shore-LIJ’s Center for Tobacco Control at 516-466-1980 or reach the New York State Smokers’ Quitline at 1-866-NY-QUITS. 

This post was written by Patricia Folan, director of the North Shore-LIJ Center for Tobacco Control. 

For more North Shore-LIJ Health Blog posts, go to http://blog.northshorelij.com/ 

Contents of the health blog are the property of North Shore-LIJ Health System and are provided as a health resource for consumers, health care professionals and members of the media. The medical content on the North Shore-LIJ Health Blog is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for consultation with your physician regarding diagnosis, treatment or any other form of specific medical advice. These materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "North Shore-LIJ Health System," "North Shore-LIJ," "northshorelij.com," "VivoHealth," their related entities and logos are trademarks of the North Shore-LIJ Health System. Copyright © 2011 North Shore-LIJ Health System. All rights reserved.

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