Individuals who are affected by chronic sinuses may want to stay away from secondhand smoke as those who are exposed to it are more likely to suffer from chronic rhinosinusitis.

According to a new study published in the Archives of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, people who are exposed to secondhand smoke on a regular basis in private or public settings are more likely to have chronic sinus disease.

Several studies have been conducted in the past to determine the role that secondhand smoke has in cancer development as well as other health issues.

The researchers found that 13.4 percent of patients with chronic sinus disease were exposed to secondhand smoke at home, compared to 9.1 percent of sinus patients who were not. Additionally, 18.6 percent of patients with the disease were exposed to secondhand smoke at work compared to 6.9 percent who worked in a smoke-free environment.

“Even though more evidence is needed to validate the secondhand smoke-chronic rhinosinusitis association, secondhand smoke is already known to cause many other diseases,” the authors conclude.