| Secondhand smoking, breathing in of | | | | harden the arteries, causing problems like |
| environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), is also called | | | | atherosclerosis, hypertension and later heart |
| passive smoking. It is when a person breathes in | | | | attack. In one of the studies, it was found that |
| smoke given off into the environment by other | | | | secondhand smoking enhances the risk of a heart |
| people. | | | | attack by at least two times. |
| Secondhand smoke or ETS is a combination of | | | | Stroke: Non-smokers exposed to secondhand |
| side stream smoke coming straight from the | | | | smoke run at least 80% more risk of stroke than |
| burning tobacco and the mainstream smoke that | | | | do the non-exposed people. |
| is exhaled by the smoker. It comprises of over | | | | Asthma: One of the studies revealed that the |
| 4000 chemical constituents, a large proportion of | | | | non-smokers exposed to ETS at work showed at |
| which are the inducers of respiratory illnesses and | | | | least twice the risk of asthma than the |
| around 40 are known or suspected carcinogens. | | | | non-exposed people did. Those who were |
| The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | | | | exposed to ETS at home as well, showed as |
| has classified ETS as a class A (known human) | | | | much as five times greater risk for asthma than |
| carcinogen along with other known carcinogens | | | | the non-exposed people did. In individuals who |
| such as arsenic, asbestos and benzene etc. | | | | already suffer from asthma, exposure to ETS |
| ETS is unfiltered, thus the levels of carcinogens in | | | | cansignificantly decline their lung function. |
| it are much more than in smoke inhaled directly | | | | Breast Cancer: Some of the recent studies have |
| by an active smoker. Smoking of a cigarette | | | | revealed ETS to increase the risk of breast |
| produces smoke from two major places, mainly | | | | cancer among women. |
| from the tip of cigarette and from the rest of | | | | Effects on the fetus: |
| the cigarette as the hot vapors liberated through | | | | Smoking by a pregnant woman can have various |
| the cigarette and its filter. | | | | serious consequences on the developing fetus. |
| About 70% to 80% of ETS is from the burning | | | | - Babies born to women who smoked during their |
| tip of cigarette and comprises of the highest | | | | pregnancy have a low birth weight and are often |
| levels of nicotine, carbon monoxide, tar and | | | | born prematurely. |
| various other carcinogens. Therefore, a constant | | | | - Their organs, chiefly the lungs, are smaller than |
| exposure to an ETS is apparently even more | | | | of other babies and these babies are more |
| injurious than directly smoking a cigarette for an | | | | susceptible to cot death. |
| equivalent period. | | | | - They are more prone to illness all their life and |
| Effects of Exposure to Secondhand Smoke | | | | are more likely to become addicted to the |
| Immediate effects: | | | | tobacco later in their life. |
| Immediate effects of secondhand smoking | | | | Effect on Children |
| comprise of eye irritation, cough, sore throat, | | | | - Kids that are exposed to secondhand smoke |
| headache, nausea and dizziness. | | | | from either parent during the first year of their |
| Long-term effects: | | | | lives are far more likely to be afflicted with |
| Lung cancer: The major cause of lung cancer | | | | asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis, bronchiolitis and |
| among non-smokers is secondhand smoke. One | | | | other respiratory problems than kids who were |
| of the studies revealed that hospitality workers | | | | not exposed. |
| who were exposed to secondhand smoke | | | | - Secondhand smoking may also predispose |
| became three times more prone to lung cancer. | | | | children to the impairment of the blood circulatory |
| Cardiovascular problems: ETS can induce | | | | system, behavioral problems and olfactory (nasal) |
| short-term and long-term harm to the heart by | | | | problems. |
| decreasing its functional capacity and lowering the | | | | - It also increases their susceptibility to develop |
| capacity of blood to carry oxygen. Some of the | | | | cancer during their adulthood. |
| chemicals in secondhand smoke can block or | | | | |