Life
Sick by Association: The Dangers of Second-Hand Smoke
A first hand account of how second hand smoke can affect you…
Here’s what many people don’t know about smoking: Most of the smoke from a burning cigarette does not get inhaled into the smoker’s lungs, it escapes into the air. Meaning that anyone nearby is essentially lighting one up with the actual nicotine user. For this reason, many states have passed laws that outlaw smoking in public places such as shopping malls, movie theaters, airplanes and bars. Unfortunately, there is no federal law that protects the children living in the home of a smoking adult. What exactly is second-hand smoke? Sidestream second-hand smoke is any smoke that is inhaled from the end of a lit, smoldering cigarette, cigar or pipe. Mainstream second-hand smoke is one that is exhaled from that of the smoker and inhaled by those surrounding him/her. What my mother and father didn’t realize is that they were exposing me to the same chemicals that they voluntarily chose to take into their bodies. Tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 chemical compounds of which more than 60 are known to cause cancer including hydrogen cyanide (a poisonous gas used in chemical weapons), Benzene (also found in gasoline), formaldehyde and carbon monoxide.
As a child I experienced frequent cases of pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma and allergies that if weren’t caused by second-hand smoke, were only aggravated by my surroundings. Even today I still struggle with allergic reactions that often result in shortness of breath. Although, I have no doubt that my parents place my health as their top priority, I understand that they were just mistakenly misinformed and are just beginning to wonder if their habit may have had something to do with the allergies I presently deal with. But just think: If parents can unknowingly place their children’s health at risk, what does that say about your good friend who always has to light up when they’re giving you a lift, or the co-worker who takes their daily 15-minute smoke breaks beneath your office window? Of course, they know what they’ve signed up for, they just may not care or are struggling to battle their addiction. What exactly have they signed you up for without your permission? Check out the following stats courtesy of The American Cancer Society:
Researchers have found that women who have been exposed to second-hand smoke face a 69% higher risk of heart disease and a 56% higher risk of stroke than those who weren’t exposed.
126 million non-smoking Americans are exposed to second-hand smoke at home and at work.
More than 40% of children who visit the emergency room for severe asthma attacks live with smokers.
Children exposed to second-hand smoke are at a higher risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), asthma, inner-ear and respiratory infections.
About 3000 non-smokers die every year from lung disease as a result of repeated exposure to second-hand smoke.
A 2005 report from the California Environmental Protection Agency concluded that the evidence regarding second-hand smoke and breast cancer “is consistent with a causal association” in young women.
