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Second-Hand Dangers of Cigarette Smoke

Second hand smoke is often called passive smoke – and it’s the smoke released by cigarettes. By breathing in air that’s been polluted by cigarettes, you’re getting a heavy does of cancer causing chemicals.

When a cigarette burns, the chemicals are released into the air. When smoke is blown out, chemicals are also released into the air. The dangers of second hand smoke have also been widely recognized by government health agencies as a cause of cancer after meticulous research.

Second hand cigarette smoke does cause lung cancer – even in people who don’t and have never smoked, but it does a lot more than cause lung cancer. It’s recognized as a cause of other cancers such as breast cancer, cancer of the stomach and even brain cancer.

Breathing in second hand smoke increases the #stress on the heart and affects blood pressure negatively. Children who breathe in second hand smoke are at an even higher risk of adverse health problems because of their size and often underdeveloped immune systems.

Children who get exposed to second hand smoke have an increase in the development of asthma and children who already have asthma experience a higher percentage of asthma attacks.

Second hand smoke causes illness and infection to develop in toddlers and is a cause linked to childhood cancers such as leukemia. Children are at risk for getting bronchial infections and pneumonia.

This is one of the reasons that pediatricians always ask parents if anyone in the home smokes or if the children are around second hand smoke. Your kids can be around second hand smoke at a restaurant, a park or even in the parking lot walking into a department store.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome has a higher risk of happening in a home where second hand smoke is. There is also a higher occurrence of ear infections and even the common cold where smoke is a factor.

Second smoke is a lung irritant – and children are especially vulnerable. Being around second hand smoke, especially long term can lead to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), where your health gradually disintegrates.

Second hand smoke is known to cause cancer, raise the risk of heart diseases and it robs people of years of their life. People with weakened immune systems are also more vulnerable to developing diseases from exposure to second hand smoke.

The cause of these health issues is related directly to a non-smoker breathing in the chemicals contained in cigarettes. There are tests available that can analyze the quality of air in your home and show you that you’re breathing in these chemicals.

Health risks and preventive steps – check the link to see how you can reduce the risk of or avoid second smoke. It also gives more details about how environmental smoke can damage health. Special care has to be taken to ensure that children are not exposed to high levels of second hand smoke as their immune systems are not developed and could lead to many chronic illnesses including cancer.