Hurt told Reuters secondhand smoke exposure can trigger immediate changes in the lining of the aorta, and can make blood platelets more likely to form a dangerous clot.

This dilemma is one reason why more than 850,000 private student loans, which in total are worth more than $8 billion, are in default.

Americans continue to say the country is headed in the wrong direction, and they are split over whether the nation is headed into another recession. Nearly four in 10 say they are worse off financially now than they were four years ago.

A CBS News/New York Times poll shows 47 percent of Americans disapprove of the president's Affordable Care Act, including 30 percent who strongly disapprove. In the poll, conducted March 21-25, only 36 percent of those questioned said they support the law either somewhat or strongly.

With 39 percent or Republican primary voters holding a favorable view of him, Romney is viewed the most positively of the five candidates remaining in the Republican race. Thirty-four percent have a favorable opinion of Gingrich, though slightly more - 36 percent - view him unfavorably. Thirty-three percent view Santorum favorably, though more than half say they still have not formed an opinion of him. Paul and Perry receive net negative evaluations: More of these voters view each negatively than positively.