Dangers Second Hand Smoke

We all know that smoking has serious health effects on the individuals who choose to smoke cigarettes. For the vast majority of people it will lead to sickness, disease and eventually premature death. But what are the dangers second hand smoke pose on those who choose not to smoke, but are put in the unfortunate position of being around those who do on a regular basis?

Before we explore this question it is important to understand exactly what second hand smoke is. Second hand smoke (also known as environmental tobacco smoke) is smoke that is inhaled involuntarily by someone who is not smoking. This second hand smoke can come from two sources, Sidestream smoke and/or Mainstream smoke.

• Sidestream smoke is produced from a burning tobacco product e.g. burning end of a cigarette, out of a tobacco pipe

• Mainstream Smoke is the exhaled (breathed out) smoke from a smoker.

Second hand smoke is very harmful as it is known to contain over 4000 chemicals compounds including some of which are very poisonous. So not only are smokers causing themselves considerable harm but they are harming and possibly killing those that they smoke around.
So what exactly are the effects of second hand smoke on these people?

Non-smoking Partners

• A non-smoking spouse has a 30% increased chance of developing lung disease and a 20% increased chance of developing lung cancer

• Can cause many other health problems including nasal sinus cancer, stroke and weakened immune system (which can lead to many other health problems)

• Breathing problems are very common and these can include coughing, asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and bronchitis

• Breathing in your partners smoke can also have an emotional toll because as a non smoker they have chosen not to go down that path but yet they still have to put up with all the negatives of smoking.
  

Infants and Children

Infants and children suffer from the effects of second hand smoke more than adults because their bodies are still developing. Infants also breathe faster than adults and therefore inhale more second hand smoke. Some of the effects of second hand smoke on children include;

• The chances of an Infant dying from SIDS(Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) quadruples in a smoking household

• Increased risk of developing illnesses and diseases especially ear infections, bronchitis, pneumonia asthma and breathing difficulties.

• Children with Asthma are in particular danger as breathing in second hand smoke (even in small amounts) can trigger an attack and make future attacks worse.
  

• Second hand smoke has been linked to children with behavioral and learning difficulties. Children who are constantly around smokers score lower on tests including maths and reading.
  

If knowing what smoking is doing to your own body isn't enough to make you quit then you really need to consider what your second hand smoke is doing to your family. After all do you really want to be responsible for making a family member sick or even for their death. No, of course you don't. So make now the time to quit, if not for yourself then for the ones you love.