Understanding the Risks of Secondhand Smoke

February 12, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Secondhand smoke (SHS), also called passive smoke or environmental tobacco smoke, can have serious health implications for non-smokers. Research has proven that exposure to secondhand smoke can lead to diseases such as cancer and various respiratory illnesses.

Tests have shown that secondhand smoke contains at least 69 toxins that are known cancer-causing agents or have possible cancer causing effects. Some of the conditions that can result from or worsen due to exposure to secondhand smoke are:

Cancer

Many studies have proven that prolonged exposure to SHS has a carcinogenic impact on humans. It has been shown that people exposed to this type smoke have a higher risk of developing lung cancer.

There is also a higher possibility of brain tumors in children so exposed, even if their mothers are non-smokers.

Lung diseases

Apart from lung cancer, non-smokers who are exposed to passive smoke can develop lung-related illnesses as a result.

Circulatory problems

Heart disease and many circulatory conditions have also been linked to exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.

Respiratory conditions

There is ample evidence that exposure to secondhand smoke can make asthma and other respiratory conditions worse.

Pregnancy and birth complications

Some cases of low birth weight babies or premature births have been linked to the mother’s exposure to secondhand smoke. Passive smoking was linked to some cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) by the US Surgeon General in a 2006 report.

Hearing loss and nose and throat infections have been attributed to some degree to exposure to passive smoke. Other illnesses that scientists and doctors are exploring for this relationship are allergies, dementia and some skin conditions.

Children and the sick are especially vulnerable to the effects of secondhand smoke. Continued research has shown that people exposed to secondhand smoke are as much at risk for some conditions as the smokers themselves. Despite all the evidence to date of the negative impact of SHS many smokers are still not sufficiently convinced to stop exposing others.

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The Health Cost of Smoking

February 10, 2011 by Leave a Comment

The health cost of smoking has manifold angles. It takes in the cost to society as a whole and to the individual smoker and their family on the basic level. Of course, some smokers would argue that nonsmokers also add to health care costs since they live longer.

The Individual Costs

There are many additional costs that smoking adds to an individual’s expenses. The first of course is the cost to purchase the cigarettes. Each pack of cigarette is money that could have been saved or used for something else.

Smokers generally have to pay more for health insurance. They are considered high risk by insurers since smoking is known to cause some forms of cancers. Often their premiums far exceed what non-smokers pay for coverage.

The Cost to Society

Because smokers tend to have poorer health than nonsmokers, they place greater burden on the health system. Many of them develop cancers, heart disease and respiratory diseases. These lead to extended hospitalization and surgeries, and more often than not, they have to be on medication for life. The cost is mind-boggling considering the number of smokers as well as nonsmokers affected by passive smoke.

In 2009, figures reportedly from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that the cost of smoking for direct health care was $96 billion annually. Added to this was the projected loss in productivity of $97 billion per year. It is easy to see that this can have a negative impact on any economy.

In addition to the financial costs, there are also the emotional costs resulting from smoking. Many families have been destroyed after losing loved ones to smoking related illnesses. Children have had to see parents suffer from various illnesses that are directly related to cigarette smoking such as emphysema.

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Quit Smoking The Self-Inflicted Punishment

January 18, 2011 by Leave a Comment

One of the biggest health challenges facing mankind is unfortunately of their own making. As it is, the world is becoming an unhealthier place to live in because of pollution and environmental degradation. Added to this the menace of smoking is snuffing out many valuable lives in the prime of their youth.

It is unfortunate that millions of people across the world continue with this life-threatening practice even though they are very much aware of the risks associated with it. Smoking is an almost certain route to cancer and a host of other diseases. Though a plethora of laws are floating around in various countries, it is very difficult to implement them unless the end users of cigarettes, i.e. the consumers themselves realize the dangers they are bringing upon them and to society at large

One more dangerous consequence associated with cigarettes is passive smoking or exposure to second-hand smoking as it also called. Imagine a situation in a small apartment where the parents are smokers. They are surely damaging their health irretrievably but what they may not be realizing is that they are also seriously damaging their family members’ health. Passive smoking is as big a health challenge as active smoking in many parts of the world, especially in poor countries where the living conditions are very bad, unhygienic and with lack of ventilation.

To combat this menace, there are many initiatives taking place out there but more needs to be done. There are many ways to quit smoking provided there is a determination and will power amongst the users. More importantly there should be a mass uprising to get the world rid of this menace and a long fight is ahead, especially with the biggest vested interest, i.e. the tobacco manufacturing companies and tobacco cultivators. These people tout death and destruction in the name of creating jobs and opportunities.

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The Facts on Secondhand Smoke

December 20, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Chances are that you or someone you know is a smoker. In fact, you have probably sat in the same room or area that they have smoked in. What many non-smokers do not know is that while they are not physically smoking the cigarette they are in fact experiencing a phenomenon known as passive smoking or secondhand smoking. This act of passive smoking or secondhand smoke can be just as dangerous as smoking the actual tobacco cigarette.

Tobacco cigarettes are made up of over 4,000 harmful chemicals and pollutants that can cause health problems. While a smoker who is inhaling it has a major chance of experiencing health problems from these chemicals, a person who is exposed to secondhand smoke is just as exposed to the health problems that can come from smoking tobacco cigarettes.

Here is a look at some of the statistics regarding secondhand smoke. While most of the statistics cover what happens to children, there are significant findings that secondhand smoke does affect both children and adults who are exposed to it.

In a study conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency it is estimated that over 3,000 cases of lung cancer are discovered in people who have never smoked a cigarette a day in their life. However, these people were exposed to amounts of secondhand smoke which is believed to be the cause of the cancer.

Children under the age of six who have been exposed to secondhand smoke showed increased signs of asthma. These signs developed over time and were not there when the children were born.

Cases of sudden infant death syndrome were higher in households that had large amounts of secondhand smoke.

Children of all ages that are exposed to secondhand smoke have multiple cases of inner and middle ear infections, pneumonia, bronchitis and colds and coughs.

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Some of the Chemicals Found in Secondhand Smoke

December 15, 2010 by Leave a Comment

You might believe that because you have never taken a puff on a cigarette that you are protected from any of the harmful side effects, health problems and other things that can come from smoking. However, this is not that case. Even if you have never smoked a day in your life, if you are exposed to secondhand smoke from another smoker, you are essentially breathing in the chemicals and toxins that the tobacco cigarette contains.

A study was conducted on secondhand smoke and the chemicals and toxins that were found in the smoke. It took a look at what exactly is in that smoke you are breathing and what those toxins or chemicals can do to your body. The samples that were taken to find these findings include actual smoke that came directly from the smoker and smoke that was produced by the end of the cigarette. Here is a look at some of the chemicals that were found in the secondhand smoke that was studied.

Cancer Causing Toxins. There were over 50 different types of cancer causing chemicals and carcinogens found within the various samples of secondhand smoke that were studied. Each of these cancer causing chemicals can essentially be divided into one of six types of known chemicals that cause cancer. Of the known cancer causing chemicals 11 of them are considered group 1 cancer causing chemicals.

Poisonous Gases. Secondhand smoke also contains a number of poisonous gases that a human is breathing in. These gases include hydrogen cyanide that is commonly used in chemical weapons, butane that is used in lighters and gas grills and ammonia and toluene which is used in paint thinners and chemical cleaners.

Metals. Secondhand smoke also contained small amounts of metals. Essentially a person is breathing in metallic substances that will be brought into the lungs. These metals include arsenic, lead, cadmium and chromium.

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Reasons Smoking Bans are Made

December 1, 2010 by Leave a Comment

It is a fact that in every single state in the United States there is some type of smoking ban in effect. Some smoking bans are put into effect via the state government, others are enforced through the local government. No matter who enforces the smoking ban the fact remains that there are smoking bans in every single state in the United States. Smoking bans can be put into place for a number of reasons, however many people believe that it comes down to one of two things. The government is either trying to force people to stop smoking through inconvenience or they government is trying to protect children from the dangers that secondhand smoke can bring to a child.

Here is a look at why smoking bans have been put into place and how they can essentially prevent exposure to secondhand smoking.

Inconvenience. Many governments believe that if you limit how a person can smoke or where they can smoke this will prevent them from smoking. If they cannot smoke in public restaurants this will force them to have to give up that cigarette for a little bit or force them to choose a new hobby instead. While it is not always ideal, smoking has been known to decrease smoking in the general public and it is believed to be cause of the inconvenience factor.

Safety of Children. Some states have smoking bans that prevent smoking in enclosed areas such as homes and cars as long as there is a minor present. These bans were put into place in an effort to reduce the amount of exposure children have to secondhand smoke. Reports all over the place talk about how dangerous smoking and secondhand smoke can be to children but that does not always stop people from exposing them to the smoke. These bans make it a law and prevents the children from having to experience secondhand smoke.

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