Second Hand Smoke – Is As Good As Smoking
Friday, February 19th, 2010Second hand smoking is also known as passive smoking. It’s the kind of smoking, wherein you don’t smoke but breathe in other peoples smoke. This could be cigarette smoke or even environmental tobacco smoke. If you think that second hand smoking is not detrimental to your health, you are dead wrong. And ‘dead’ is the right word here, as second hand smoking poses serious health risks to your body also.
Second hand smoking can harm you
Causes cancer
Second hand smoke is a cancer causing agent. It’s estimated that there are over 4000 compounds that are a part of tobacco smoke and around 60 of them are carcinogens. Cancer, as a result of smoking or passive smoking, is one of the leading causes of death across the world.
Smoking harms the newborn
Mothers are asked not to smoke as the foetus or the new born infant is affected by her smoking. This is the kind of passive smoking that leads to birth defects in the baby. The infant passively takes in the cigarette smoke from the mother, leading to serous health risks.
Other health problems
You are not just at risk for cancer because of second hand smoke. Your body becomes susceptible to heart disease, lung infections like pneumonia and bronchitis. There are increased cases of children who suffer from asthma as a result of passive smoking.
Avoiding second hand smoke
Because of its harmful effects it becomes very important that you avoid passive smoking. But, is it really possible for you to avoid passive smoking? Let’s just say that it’s difficult. The best thing you can do is to avoid smokers and not frequent places that are frequented by smokers. And whenever possible make a non-smoker out of a smoker.
Second hand smoke has first rate harmful effects. You will do well to stay away from it as far as possible.