The Health Risks of Secondhand Smoke

Author: Andrew Bicknell

Author: Andrew Bicknell

The most serious risk that smokers pose to those who do not smoke is exposure to their second hand smoke. Involuntary inhalation of tobacco smoke by non-smokers is also known as passive smoking because it involves breathing in a mixture of smoke exhaled by the smoker and from the burning cigarette, cigar, or pipe. In fact research has shown that tobacco smoke may continue to linger for several hours after a cigarette has been extinguished, furthering unwanted exposure to its affects. The two kinds of secondhand smoke are known as side-stream and main-stream smoke. Side-stream is the smoke that is exhaled from the lungs while main-stream comes from the burning tip of the tobacco product. This smoke is as dangerous to the non-smoker as it is to the smoker as it contains a number of chemicals are toxic and are known carcinogens. Some of the 4000 chemicals found in secondhand smoke include formaldehyde, arsenic, cadmium, benzene, and ethylene oxide are all considered to increase the risk of lung cancer. In fact there are 60 carcinogenic chemicals found in cigarette smoke. Passive smokers also are exposed to ammonia, carbon monoxide, methanol, and hydrogen cyanide. Pregnant women are highly susceptible to the effects of secondhand smoke. Their babies have an increased risk to being born prematurely and with a lower then normal birth weight. After birth these children are also more at risk for developing allergies, asthma, asthmatic bronchitis, and other respiratory issues. Avoiding smokers and smoky environments is an important part of a healthy pregnancy. As harmful as 2nd hand smoke is children are at the greatest risk to its effects. The American Lung Association did a recent study that revealed that secondhand smoke is responsible for between 150,000 to 300,000 cases of bronchitis and pneumonia in infants 18 months of age and younger. Approximately 15,000 of these children need to be hospitalized. Secondhand smoke is not something to be ignored; exposure to it can cause a multitude of dangerous health effects. Avoiding it is the best way to avoid these problems but if someone in your life is a smoker helping them cut or quit the habit will improve not only their health but the health of those around them.About the Author:

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