Second-hand smoke increases the risk of rheumatoid arthritis in children: Study

According to a new study, kids whose parents smoke around them have a greater tendency to develop rheumatoid arthritis as adults. In fact, researchers have found evidence that women whose parents smoked had a 75% higher risk of developing the disorder.

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Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease in which the body's immune system attacks its own tissue, including the muscular joints. This causes painful swelling and the severity of this disorder can also lead to bone erosion and joint deformity.

The study which appeared in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatoid tracked more than 90,000 female nurses, between the age group of 25 and 42. Almost two-thirds of them never smoked themselves and 65% informed that their parents had smoked during their childhood. The participants were studied over the next 3 decades.

It was then discovered that about 350 of the women had developed rheumatoid arthritis in the later years of their life. The authors of the study estimated that childhood exposure to second-hand smoking boosted the risk of rheumatoid arthritis by 41%. And when the participants went on to smoke themselves as adults, after being exposed to second-hand smoking as kids, their risk of developing the disease was at 75%.

While this study may have its limitations as it is not applicable to males, it still highlights the side effects of second-hand smoking amongst young girls.

Also watch: 'Thirdhand' smoke can be dangerous too