Second Hand Smoke – The danger you should avoid
Even non-smokers can experience the agony of smokers from exposure to second hand smoke. While it is easy not to smoke, but it can be quite difficult to stay away from the menace of second hand smoke, which seems to be present in most public places and even in homes.
The dangers of second hand smoke necessitate creation of smoke free zones. To reduce the risk of diseases usually associated with tobacco smoke, non-smokers should avoid places polluted by tobacco smoke.
Types of second hand smoke
When a smoker lights a cigarette or pipe, he emits two streams of smoke – the mainstream and the side stream smokes. These are the sources of second hand smoke. While smoking, the smoker exhales mainstream smoke. The smoke emitted directly from the burning cigarette is known as the side stream smoke. Thousands of chemicals are present in tobacco smoke. Among these chemicals, more than 250 are toxins and over 50 substances are directly associated with cancers. You would inhale these toxins when exposed to second hand smoke. Studies have shown that nearly 10 percent of tobacco related deaths are caused by second hand smoking.
Dangers of second hand smoke in adults
Second hand smoke is associated with lung cancer and nasal sinus cancer. It increases the risk of cardiovascular ailments. The rising incidence of heart disease among non-smokers is often associated with second hand smoking. It can even cause respiratory diseases including asthma.
Dangers of second hand smoking during pregnancy
Pregnant women exposed to second hand smoke could give birth to infants with low birth weight. The infant might develop several health problems. Second hand smoking increases the risk of cerebral palsy and poor brain development.
Dangers of second hand smoke in babies
The risk of sudden infant death syndrome is greater among babies exposed to second hand smoke.
Avoiding second hand smoke
There is no safe limit for second hand smoking. Even exposure to mild second hand smoke could be detrimental to health. Even by opening the windows or running the air conditioner, you could not remove carcinogenic particles present in tobacco smoke from your room. To avoid the dangers of tobacco smoke, you should stay in 100 percent smoke free areas. You should not allow any one in your house or workplace to smoke.
