Second Hand Smoke

Watch this video first - it will make you want to quit smoking immediately

We're sure that by now folks have heard about the dangers associated with what is called second hand smoke.  But just what is this so-called secondhand smoke, what are its effects on your health, is there a test to measure second hand smoke, and is it really as dangerous as the research and tests seem to indicate?

What is Second Hand Smoke and What Are its Effects?

Second hand smoke is cigarette smoke that is exhaled by smokers in addition to the smoke from the smokers' burning cigarette itself. It is also known as passive smoke or environmental tobacco smoke.  It is also defined as smoke that is involuntarily inhaled by non-smokers or folks who do not smoke.

This smoke is known to contain over 200 substances considered poisonous.  These substances include over 43 chemicals that are known cancer-causing agents.  It is estimated that this smoke from smokers results in approximately 150,000 to 350,000 respiratory tract infections.  Also, estimates suggest that breathing second hand smoke results in between 7500 to 15,000 folks being hospitalized annually.

Non-smokers who regularly come in contact with the toxic substances that are found in second hand smoke may develop serious health problems that can be life-threatening.  Exposure to these toxins have been known to aggravate, worsen, or cause certain diseases such as asthma, respiratory infections, and even cancer.

The facts are  that diseases such as emphysema and heart disease are a few of the diseases that are also known to be caused by exposure to the toxins in second hand smoke. This smoke contains high amounts of carbon monoxide which is known to result in a reduction of the amount of oxygen in a person's blood.

Exposure to the toxins in second hand smoke is also known to cause lung cancer as well as cancers related to the respiratory tract.  It is estimated that 3000 non-smokers die each year as a result of exposure to and breathing second hand smoke from the cigarettes of other people.

It has also been shown that this exposure can and does trigger asthma attacks in folks with asthma.  Even short term exposure can result in a person's blood platelets becoming stickier and also cause the damage of the lining in your blood vessels.  Its effects are also known to have the potential of increasing heart attack risk.

Nicotine is a known addictive drug. Can secondhand smoke result in nicotine addiction  for those who are exposed to it? If so, how long must the exposure continue?

Second Hand Smoke Effects on Babies and Children

If you are a smoker, by learning about these statistics and the affects of second hand smoke on your kids might help you to quit smoking.

Although exposure to second hand smoke can result in serious health conditions in adults, special precautions should be taken around women who are pregnant and children.

It is thought that exposure to the chemicals in second hand smoke are one big cause of the illnesses found in children.  However it is also thought that up to 80% of adults who smoke do not take enough care to make sure that the children living with them are not exposed to their cigarette smoke.

Having infants exposed can result in the increased risk of those infants dying from sudden infant death syndrome. 

Also it is estimated that between 50,000 and 300,000 infections of the lower respiratory tract that develop in infants and children under 18 months is directly related to their exposure to secondhand smoke. 

This results in thousands of these infants and children being admitted to the hospital for treatment every year.

Second hand smoke is thought to be the culprit in increased incidences of asthma and possibly leukemia and other cancers found in children exposed regularly. 

Exposure can also result in more coughing and wheezing, reduced lung capacity, increased incidence of ear infections, bronchitis, and pneumonia and also greatly increase the risk that these kids will begin smoking themselves.

If you are a nursing mother, be aware that exposure to secondhand smoke might also adversely affect your breast milk.  It has been shown that small amounts of chemicals known to cause cancer have been found in the breast milk of folks exposed to these toxins.

Research on Second Hand Smoke

Over 30 studies indicate that those living with smokers increase their risk of developing lung cancer.

The Journal of the American Medical Association published a review in 1992 outlining studies indicating the relationship between second hand smoke and increased incidences of heart disease.

 It was estimated that exposure to chemicals resulting from this passive smoking caused between 35,000 and 45,000 people to die every year in the United States in the early 1980s.

Science to the rescue!

Another article found in the British Medical Journal attributed exposure to passive smoking to a 60% increase in the risk of heart disease by people who do not smoke.  This study suggested that reducing your exposure to second hand smoke can reduce your risk of a heart attack.

In another, the Environmental Protection Agency links second hand smoke with a higher incidence of lower respiratory infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia in kids.  They state that up to 300,000 of these respiratory infections are attributable to exposure to second hand smoke.

And also from research provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 3000 deaths from lung cancer as well as over 35,000 deaths from cardiovascular disease is directly attributable to exposure from you guessed it.

What About Short Term Exposure to Second Hand Smoke?

From all of the research it would appear likely that even as little as two weeks of direct, heavy exposure may have an adverse affect on the health of your family.  Tests have indicated that even brief exposure may result in levels of toxins in your bodies that are measurable.

If you are a smoker and have kids or you have a child who is exposed on a regular basis, realize that the sooner you reduce this exposure the healthier your family and children will be.

If you have been smoking in your home and want to rid your home of these toxins, you may want to invest in a good air purifier to filter second hand smoke.

Also, opening your windows to provide ventilation and allow your home to purge itself of these poisons is also a good idea. Some folks may even try masks that prevent inhalation of second hand smoke but your first two options will probably work best.

Even if you yourself cannot quit smoking, eliminating it in your home by taking it outside will greatly reduce the chances of your family and children developing a second hand smoke related illness. Even your pets and dogs will be healthier.

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