Second Hand Smoking

Second hand smoking means you are being exposed to cigarette smoke by those who smoke around you. It can be as harmful as if you are a smoker.

According to the American Lung Association, second hand smoke is a mixture of the smoke given off by the burning end of a cigarette, pipe or cigar and the smoke exhaled from the lungs of smokers. It contains many chemicals known to be toxic or cancer causing, including formaldehyde, benzene, vinyl chloride, arsenic, ammonia, and hydrogen cyanide.

When others are smoking around you and you are inhaling cigarette smoke is called passive smoking or involuntary smoking.

The health risk factors when you are exposed to cigarette smoke are high. Here is a list:

- It causes lung cancer – I have seen many heavy smokers whose spouse dies of lung cancer. Statistics say that over 3,000 non smokers die each year of lung cancer.

- It irritates eyes, nose and throat.

- It irritates the lungs causing cough and increases phlegm

Smoking statistics also show that passive smoking has been estimated to cause 22,700-69,600 deaths per year from heart disease in adult nonsmokers.

This is how you can protect yourself and your family from cigarete smoke exposure.

- If you are a smoker, go outside to smoke. This will protect your family especially your children who are at higher risks of developing problems.

- Ask people who come to your house not to smoke inside your home.

- Do not smoke inside your car. If you have to smoke open your windows to get rid of the smoke.

- Be considerate of others and smoke only in designated areas if you are in public.

- Always walk away from those who are smoking

- Contribute to help others quit and tell them why quit smoking is so important to them and their family.

Sometimes it’s not easy to stay away from others who smoke but minimizing exposure can make a difference to your health

Protect your children and speak to them from an early age about the cigarette harmful effects. Show them examples of other people who have gotten sick after many years of smoking.

If you are a former smoker and would like to share your personal story with others to help them see that smoking can really be harmful to their bodies please feel free to submit it. Click here for instructions.

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