Secondhand smoke linked to artery disease in women

The study in the journal Circulation found breathing secondhand smoke significantly increases the risk of women developing peripheral artery disease, or PAD, and heart disease and stroke, in some cases by as much as 69 percent.

The study defined passive smoking as exposure to another person's tobacco smoke for at least 15 minutes daily for more than one day every week for at least two years during the past 10 years.

Authors say the public needs to be made aware of the dangers of passive smoke.