Secondhand Smoke Effects Nobody Knows About

Breathing in someone’s secondhand smoke not only takes its toll on you but on your loved ones as well. Over 80% of secondhand smoke is not visible and order-free. Irrespective of how much cautious you believe you are; your loved ones still are breathing in toxic chemicals. It is time to know the facts, health risks and take steps in order to avoid breathing in it.

Being around a smoker is as dangerous for you as for the smoker himself. A Smoker, while smoking, not only hurts himself but the person around him as well and further strengthens the bilateral detriment.

What is Secondhand Smoke?

Secondhand smoke (SHS) is a mixture of smoke that comes directly from the burning end of a cigarette, cigar or pipe and the smoke breathed out by the smoker. Tobacco smoke has several toxic elements including Benzopyrene, Ammonia, Carbon-Monoxide, Lead, Formaldehyde, Arsenic, and a type of cyanide.

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Secondhand smoke contains approximately 7,000 chemicals, hundred of those are deadly, can cause cancer. For instance, some studies have shown that exposure to Secondhand Smoke is associated with indications of depression. However, more research is required to fully surmise the link between SHS and mental health.

When the smoker lightens up a cigarette or cigar, all the smoke doesn’t go straight to the smoker’s lungs. It lingers in the air for hours and breathing it in even for a short time can hurt the non-smoker who is being around the smoker.

Effects of Secondhand Smoke on Health

There is no denying that SHS is likely to raise the risk of cancer; including lung cancer and many other kinds of cancers. The non-smokers who are at the receiving end of SHS can develop emphysema-dangerous to your heart health. In all likelihood, smoke hits back in the form of stickier blood, destroying your blood vessels and increasing the LDL cholesterol which triggers a heart attack or stroke.

Even though someone who spends most of his time with those who smoke has a lot of risk of getting a smoking-related illness.

Following categories of individuals are extremely responsive to the devastating effects of secondhand smoke.

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Effect of Passive Smoking on Children

Keep in mind, Kids are particularly in the crosshairs of the impacts of secondhand smoke, even little exposure to SHS, as their bodies are at an initial stage of growth and their breathing pattern is delicate and faster than the adults.

These conditions have been connected with secondhand smoke exposure in children:

• Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

More respiratory infections includingbronchitis and pneumonia

• Bronchitis and pneumonia
• Acute asthma attacks
• Leukemia
• Ear infections
• Brain tumors
• Chronic cough
• Lymphoma
• Liver cancer

Effect of Passive Smoking on Pregnant women

Second hand-smoke cripples not only the mother-to-be but her expected child as well. Smoke exposure during pregnancy develops the danger for multiple quandaries such as

• Placenta Previa (low lying placenta)
• Placental Abruption (a medical emergency)
• Miscarriage
• Stillbirth
• Ectopic Pregnancy
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

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SIDS means when an infant die unexpectedly while sleeping. Cigarette smoke is the key factor behind this mysterious death where autopsies and medical examinations do not pinpoint towards a true cause of mortality, and infants seem perfectly healthy even before they die. Studies show stringent measures must be taken for the sake of reducing hazardous health conditions associated with secondhand smoke and passive smoke.

Secondhand smoke lowers the mass of oxygen accessible to mother and baby, raises the baby’s heart rate and increases the possibility that the baby will have a low birth weight or be born prematurely.

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Effect of Passive Smoking on Adults

Do you know that smoke coming from burning tobacco is more harmful than that of inhaled? By and large, People around smokers are inadvertently exposed to smoking-related disorders. Secondhand smoke prompts lung cancer – even in people who are not smokers. Besides, the longer you are around secondhand smoke, the greater the risk of experiencing harmful substances in your body. As a consequence, you might have an augmented risk of developing smoking-related ailments, including:

• Larynx (voice box)
• Pharynx (throat)
• Nasal sinuses
• Brain
• Bladder
• Rectum
• Stomach
• Breast

Out of sight secondhand smoke exposure time and effects:

5 minutes – thickens the aorta

20-30 minutes – prompts excess blood clotting, as well as increases the development of fat deposits in blood vessels directly increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases

2 hours – increases the chance of irregular pulsation (arrhythmia) and can be a reason for a fatal cardiac event or heart attack.

How to Avoid Passive Smoke?

The real struggles start from this point when you urge your loved ones to stop smoking and grappling with such a situation warrants persistence and courage.

And if the case in the inverse, which is, you are the one addicted to smoking, then quit the smoking without giving a second thought in order to protect your loved ones. Keep the benefits in your mind: eventually, you’ll look, feel, and smell better. How about saving and having some extra money preserved to go out and show off the latest, healthier you?

Always make sure that your home and car stays secondhand smoke-free as this is the place where kids spend most of their time. This way you can minimize the exposure towers secondhand smoke.

Neither resort to smoking nor allow others to smoke in your territory.

It can help minimize their chances of having fatal respiratory infections, acute asthma, cancer, and several other dangerous conditions.

This approach will not only keep your surroundings smoke free but also help you quit smoking and will lower the chances of your child becoming a smoker.

What steps you can take to protect your family when you are on the go?

1. Make sure caretakers must not be addicted to any sort of smoking activity.
2. Choose smoke-free restaurants.
3. Avoid visiting the sites that permit smoking.
4. Educate your children to stay off from secondhand smoke.

You’re always better off if you quit smoking; it’s never too late. Let the life win.

Loni Anderson