Risks to a Second Hand Smoker
By: Isabelle ThomasTotal Views: 219, Word Count: 529,
Second hand smoke is also identified as environmental tobacco smoke or passive smoke. It is a combination of two forms of smoke that come from burning tobacco; one being the side stream smoke (smoke which comes from the end of a lighted cigarette, cigar or pipe) and the other being from main stream smoke ( smoke that is exhaled by a smoker). The side stream smoke has higher proportion of cancer causing elements (carcinogens) than the main stream smoke. There are many risks to a second hand smoker as discussed ahead.
Second hand smoking occurs between smokers and nonsmokers, including developing children and fetuses. Nonsmokers are second hand smokers when they breathe a side stream smoke from other people’s burning cigarettes and when they breathe the mainstream smoke that the smokers exhale. Smokers themselves could get a double dose of toxic chemicals by smoking other people’s cigarette smoke.
Risks to Unborn Babies
According to the office of the US surgeon, human bodies are more vulnerable to health problems caused by toxins during the stage when life develops. There can be harm to a fetus as the chemicals in passive smoke travel through the mother’s bloodstream and through the placenta to the developing child.
Female tobacco users who smoke prior to a pregnancy can cause birth defects and increase their baby’s risks for a miscarriage. Mothers who smoke or inhale a second hand smoke can cause fetal lung health problems or low birth weight, which is a major cause of infant mortality.
Risks to Children
As per the report of Centers for disease control and prevention (CDC), women can pass along nicotine to their babies by smoking cigarette or via breast milk. If the babies are exposed to second hand smoke it puts them at four times the normal risk for sudden infant death syndrome.
Risks to a second hand smoker also involve other children having a higher chance of respiratory and ear infections, along with exhibit symptoms such as wheezing, coughing and breath shortness. Children with asthma conditions could get serious attacks frequently after inhaling passive smoke.
Risks to Adults
There are immediate and long term consequences for non smoking adults due to second hand smoke. Due to the presence of tobacco in the blood, there is a change in cholesterol level, which results in atherosclerosis or narrowed arteries. According to CDC, inhaling a small amount of cigarette smoke can lead in the formation of blood clots, raising the possibility of heart attack. An exposure of passive smoke carries an even greater risk for adults with existing heart and health problems.
Cancerous growths take longer to develop and create symptoms than cardiovascular problems. Second hand carcinogens ingested and circulated in the blood stream affect the entire body, but only the risk for lung cancer has been proven. According to CDC, the risk of death from lung cancer rises up to 35% due to second hand contact with the smoker’s smoke.
There are no less risks to a second hand smoker than a regular smoker. Non smokers too have to be very careful while coming in contact with second hand smoke.
About the Author
Isabelle Thomas has worked for 20 years in various stop smoking clinics as a psychiatrist. She has successfully treated over a thousand chain smokers. Her aim is to spread awareness regarding hazards of smoking through her blogs.
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