The Deadly Secondhand Smoke

When a person inhales smoke that comes out from the burning of tobacco is known as side stream smoke. On the other hand, when a person inhales smoke while a person is smoking is called the mainstream smoke. Both these types of smoking are called Secondhand smoke or ETS.

Do you know the number of poisonous substances we inhales while a person smokes?

The ETS mainly consist of about 4000 poisonous substances. They make entry into our body and 40 among them can be carcinogens. Whether you are smoking or just inhaling the smoke exhaled by a smoker, it does not matter. The consequences are dangerous and lead to several respiratory problems.

ETS belongs to the class of carcinogens. The amount of carcinogen in ETS is much higher. The cause for high rate of carcinogen in ETS is that it is unfiltered. Thus, active smoker is inhaling lower quantity of carcinogen than the ETS.

There are two main places in cigarette that produces smoke. The tip of the cigarette is the one from where smoke released. Secondly, the hot smoke releases through the cigarette and its filter from the remaining part of the cigarette.

The major portion of ETS incorporates cigarette’s burning tip. It is around 70 to 80 percent of ETS. The major components are nicotine, tar, carbon monoxide and carcinogens. Thus, ETS is more harmful and deadly than the person smoking directly.

There are several hazards of Secondhand smoke. It causes eye irritation, sore throat, dizziness, nausea, headache and cough. Apart from these effects, it also leads to certain long-term illness. The major disease caused by it is the lung cancer. When a non-smoker suffers from a deadly disease like lung cancer it is because of Secondhand.

Based on recent survey, it is found that hospitality workers have more chances of lung cancer. Those workers who are more exposed to secondhand smoke have more chances of acquiring this deadly disease.

Cardio vascular problems are also one of the diseases caused by the secondhand smoke. Certain chemicals block arteries and that leads to heart attack or hypertension. Asthma and Breast cancer are also caused by secondhand smoke.

Your children are also getting affected and have more chances of acquiring deadly diseases.

If a pregnant woman smokes then she is harming her baby directly. The baby will be of low-weight; size of lungs will be smaller and have more chances of tobacco addiction.