 According to
the American Cancer Society,
if you "have ever breathed
the smoke exhaled by a
smoker, then you have
breathed most of the same
harmful, cancer causing
parts of smoke inhaled by
smokers." Being exposed to
second hand smoke, or as
some call it, being an
involuntary smoker increases
your risks for the same lung
diseases as smokers. Your
risk depends on the amount
of the smoke you are exposed
to, and the amount of time
you have been exposed for.
Lung cancer is on the rise
in non-smokers at an
alarming rate, and the
Environmental Protection
Agency has estimated that
approximately 4,000 cases or
3% of the annual death rates
from lung cancer occurred in
those people who were
exposed to second hand
smoke.
Second hand smoke also
causes asthma attacks, heart
disease, and is bad for
blood circulation. There are
some facts that have been
put out by the Surgeon
General's office and the
National Academy of
Sciences, which include:
- Second hand smoke
exposure to anyone
increases the risk of
developing lung cancer
- Non smoking wives of
husbands who smoke have a
30% increased risk of
developing lung cancer
- Children of smokers
face a significantly
increased risk of
pneumonia and bronchitis
especially in children two
and under
- Children develop
chronic coughs as they get
older and are still
exposed to the second hand
smoke
- Reoccurring ear
infections and reduced
lung function
Like an adult, the more
second hand smoke the child
is exposed to, the higher
the risk is of these
diseases happening or even
causing other chronic health
problems. If both parents
smoke, the risks are even
higher for the child to
develop these health
problems.
What Can You Do To
Avoid The Effects Of Second
Hand Smoke?
- The best thing you can
do is to stop smoking.
There are plenty of
programs that can assist
you, ask your doctor or
pharmacist for information
on programs that can help
you stop for good.
- Always ask to be
seated in the Non-Smoking
sections of any
establishment or airplane
that allows smoking
- Make sure that your
child's school and
child-care environment are
smoke-free
- Ask guests not to
smoke in or near your home
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