HOW SECOND HAND SMOKE THREATENS YOUR HEALTH

HOW SECOND HAND SMOKE THREATENS YOUR HEALTH
BY: ALEX FIR
secondhand smoking, breathing in of
environmental tobacco smoke (ets), is also
CALLED PASSIVE SMOKING. IT IS WHEN A PERSON
breathes in smoke given off into the environment
by other people.

secondhand smoke or ets is a combination of side
stream smoke coming straight from the burning
TOBACCO AND THE MAINSTREAM SMOKE THAT IS EXHALED
by the smoker. it comprises of over 4000
chemical constituents, a large proportion of
WHICH ARE THE INDUCERS OF RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES
and around 40 are known or suspected
carcinogens.

the us environmental protection agency (epa) has
classified ets as a class a (known human)
CARCINOGEN ALONG WITH OTHER KNOWN CARCINOGENS
such as arsenic, asbestos and benzene etc.

ETS IS UNFILTERED, THUS THE LEVELS OF
carcinogens in it are much more than in smoke
inhaled directly by an active smoker. smoking of
A CIGARETTE PRODUCES SMOKE FROM TWO MAJOR
places, mainly from the tip of cigarette and
from the rest of the cigarette as the hot vapors
LIBERATED THROUGH THE CIGARETTE AND ITS FILTER.

about 70% to 80 % of ets is from the burning tip
OF CIGARETTE AND COMPRISES OF THE HIGHEST LEVELS
of nicotine, carbon monoxide, tar and various
other carcinogens. therefore, a constant
EXPOSURE TO AN ETS IS APPARENTLY EVEN MORE
injurious than directly smoking a cigarette for
an equivalent period.

effects of exposure to secondhand smoke

IMMEDIATE EFFECTS:

immediate effects of secondhand smoking comprise
OF EYE IRRITATION, COUGH, SORE THROAT, HEADACHE,
nausea and dizziness.

LONG-TERM EFFECTS:

lung cancer: the major cause of lung cancer
AMONG NON-SMOKERS IS SECONDHAND SMOKE. ONE OF
the studies revealed that hospitality workers
who were exposed to secondhand smoke became
THREE TIMES MORE PRONE TO LUNG CANCER.

cardiovascular problems: ets can induce
SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM HARM TO THE HEART BY
decreasing its functional capacity and lowering
the capacity of blood to carry oxygen. some of
THE CHEMICALS IN SECONDHAND SMOKE CAN BLOCK OR
harden the arteries, causing problems like
atherosclerosis, hypertension and later heart
ATTACK. IN ONE OF THE STUDIES, IT WAS FOUND THAT
secondhand smoking enhances the risk of a heart
attack by at least two times.

stroke: non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke
run at least 80% more risk of stroke than do the
NON-EXPOSED PEOPLE.

asthma: one of the studies revealed that the
NON-SMOKERS EXPOSED TO ETS AT WORK SHOWED AT
least twice the risk of asthma than the
non-exposed people did. those who were exposed
TO ETS AT HOME AS WELL, SHOWED AS MUCH AS FIVE
times greater risk for asthma than the
non-exposed people did. in individuals who
ALREADY SUFFER FROM ASTHMA, EXPOSURE TO ETS CAN
significantly decline their lung function.

BREAST CANCER: SOME OF THE RECENT STUDIES HAVE
revealed ets to increase the risk of breast
cancer among women.

effects on the fetus:

SMOKING BY A PREGNANT WOMAN CAN HAVE VARIOUS
serious consequences on the developing fetus.

· BABIES BORN TO WOMEN WHO SMOKED DURING THEIR
pregnancy have a low birth weight and are often
born prematurely.

· their organs, chiefly the lungs, are smaller
than of other babies and these babies are more
SUSCEPTIBLE TO COT DEATH.

· they are more prone to illness all their life
AND ARE MORE LIKELY TO BECOME ADDICTED TO THE
tobacco later in their life.

EFFECT ON CHILDREN

· kids that are exposed to secondhand smoke from
EITHER PARENT DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF THEIR
lives are far more likely to be afflicted with
asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis, bronchiolitis and
OTHER RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS THAN KIDS WHO WERE
not exposed.

· SECONDHAND SMOKING MAY ALSO PREDISPOSE
children to the impairment of the blood
circulatory system, behavioral problems and
OLFACTORY (NASAL) PROBLEMS.

· it also increases their susceptibility to
DEVELOP CANCER DURING THEIR ADULTHOOD.

about the author:
CANCER IS ONE OF THE MAIN CAUSES OF DEATH AMONG
humans. visit "cancer information", free web
site for those who want to learn how to deal
WITH THIS VICIOUS DISEASE.
http://www.cancer-data.com [2]

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