Second-hand smoke and its harm
When a cigarette is lit or a hookah is used, the smoke from the burning tobacco at the end of the cigarette and the burning tobacco of the hookah, along with the smoke released during the exhalation of the smoker/hookah, enters the environment and is inhaled by other people. When second-hand smoke pollutes the air, especially in closed spaces, this air is inhaled by all people, both consumers and non-consumers, exposing them to its harmful effects.
Secondhand smoke is a combination of smoke from burning cigarettes and smoke exhaled by a smoker. There are two types of secondhand smoke:
- Side stream smoke that originates directly from the burning tobacco product.
- mainstream smoke, which is smoke exhaled by a smoker.
The smoke that originates from a cigarette or a smoker’s exhalation also contains harmful substances, such as nicotine, and can affect non-smokers. There are 7,000 known chemicals in tobacco smoke, many of which are harmful, and 70 of them cause cancer. It also contains large amounts of carbon monoxide, a gas that hinders the blood’s ability to transport oxygen to vital organs such as the heart and brain, which contribute to heart diseases and strokes.
Exposure to secondhand smoke has immediate and long-term health effects. Immediate effects include irritation of eyes, nose, throat and lungs and sometimes headache, nausea and dizziness. Exposure to second-hand smoke can also trigger asthma attacks and cause lung cancer, coronary heart disease and heart death, and it is estimated that second-hand smoke increases the risk of coronary heart disease by 30-25% and lung cancer by 30%. Increases by 20%.
Although most smokers are men, women and children are more affected by secondhand smoke. Almost half of the children in public places regularly breathe air contaminated with tobacco smoke. Almost half of women and children are continuously exposed to secondhand smoke. Every year, more than 8 million people die due to smoking, and about one million of these deaths are caused by exposure to second-hand smoke.
Many toxic substances remain in the room or car even after you put out the cigarette, which is called third-hand smoke. Children and infants who live in homes or travel in cars where people smoke are at risk from secondhand smoke because children are more vulnerable to the effects of environmental tobacco smoke because: Their lungs are still developing, their immune system is still developing, their airways are smaller and they breathe faster.
Therefore, due to their small lungs and weaker immune system, children are more exposed to the dangers of second-hand smoke, and suffer from diseases such as coughs, colds, and ear infections, and suffer from frequent chest discomfort: such as wheezing, asthma, or Shortness of breath and bronchitis.
Second-hand smoke can cause asthma attacks and in children who suffer from such a condition, it can cause more severe and frequent attacks. There is also a connection between smoking at home and hospitalization of children due to pneumonia and bronchitis. Exposure to cigarette smoke can also affect children’s growth and behavior and they can pay less attention and performance in school.
Inhalation of chemicals in cigarette smoke by mothers who breastfeed their children can also cause these substances to be transferred to their milk.
Exposure to secondhand smoke during pregnancy is associated with reduced birth weight and associated risks. Exposure of children born to mothers who smoke or exposed to second-hand smoke is associated with birth defects, stillbirth, premature birth, and infant death. Smoking by mothers during pregnancy doubles the risk of sudden infant death and birth defects in them, and exposure to cigarette smoke during pregnancy increases the risk of stillbirth by 23% and increases the risk of birth defects by 13%. Parents who smoke can harm their infants by increasing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, stunted growth, and childhood cancer.
Protection against second-hand smoke
Quitting smoking helps your lungs and heart to work better from the moment you stop smoking. Within 20 minutes after quitting smoking, heart rate and blood pressure decrease. After 12 hours, the level of carbon monoxide in the bloodstream reaches normal levels. During 2-12 weeks, blood circulation improves and lung function increases. After 1-9 months, cough and shortness of breath will decrease.
Quitting smoking will help you protect your loved ones, especially children, from exposure to secondhand smoke.
Some simple suggestions to quit smoking like cigarettes and hookah
- Set a specific date to leave.
- Tell your friends, family and colleagues about this date.
- Anticipate challenges ahead for leaving.
- Remove tobacco products from your environment.
- Protect your family from secondhand smoke
- Children learn habits from the people around them. If they live with smokers, they are three times more likely to smoke when they grow up.
Whatcan you do?
- Avoid smoking at home and ask friends and family members to smoke outside if they are smokers.
- Do not smoke in your car or allow others to smoke in your car.
- Ask your smoking guests to go outside to smoke, or
- Find another opportunity to smoke, for example on your way home
- As a guardian, father or mother of a child or even as someone who cares about your health, stay away from polluted places where you are exposed to this smoke. For example, don’t go to cafes and restaurants where smoking is allowed, or stay close to smokers in public places like parks.
