Health Effects Of Passive Smoking

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May 31st is observed as World No Tobacco Day. It is the day when you spread awareness on bad effects of smoking. We all know that smoking is a bad habit. Be is firsthand or secondhand smoking, both are injurious to health and have ill effects on the body. Secondhand smoke is a combination of sidestream smoke (smoke that drifts from a lit cigarette) and mainstream smoke (exhaled smoke). This combo has a very bad effect on the overall health.

If you think that the person beside you smoking is not going to effect you, then perish the thought! Secondhand smoking or passive smoking (breathing other people's tobacco smoke) is also dangerous to the health.

This year, we decided to focus on health effects of passive or secondhand smoking. Tobacco kills around 600,000 non-smokers who get targeted by the fumes of nicotine filled cigarettes. This toll was revealed by World Health Organisation (WHO) to coincide with its annual anti-tobacco campaign. Secondhand smoke is not only harmful to children, but women and adult men too are getting affected by the smoke. Several health authorities have sited tobacco smoke as a major cause of lung cancer. The tobacco smoke not only makes it difficult to breathe, but it also irritates the eyes, nose and throat as tobacco contains sulphur, formaldehyde and ammonia. So, what are the health effects of passive smoking? Find out how inhaling tobacco smoke is dangerous for the health. Check smoking risk calculator

Health effects of passive smoking:

Increase risk of heart diseases

Smoking first or secondhand increases the risk of heart diseases. People who stay in a house filled with smoke fumes are at higher risk of coronary heart diseases.

Asthma

Exposure to smoke can lead to respiratory disorders including asthma. Kids under 18 years of age must be kept away from smokers.

Blood pressure

Just 30 minutes of exposure to passive smoking affects the blood flow and also increases heartbeat rate. Long term exposure to secondhand smoke can lead to atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries).

Lung cancer

Non-smokers too are at a risk of lung cancer. So, it doesn't matter if you smoke or not. Tobacco is definitely going to have health effects on you!

Breast cancer

Breast cancer is a rising health problem these days. Passive smoking rises the risk of breast cancer. Extensive exposure to secondhand smoke can also lead to breast cancer.

Conceiving problems

It is one of the worst side effects of passive smoking on health. Secondhand smoking too can increase the chances of conceiving problems among women.

Chronic cough

Secondhand smoking affects your health as over exposure to tobacco smoke can lead to chronic cough.

Phlegm

Children who are exposed to secondhand smoking often suffer from cough and phlegm.

Miscarriage

Pregnant women must avoid first or secondhand smoking throughout their gestation period. The tobacco smoke can lead to miscarriage or still birth.

During pregnancy

Passive smoking has major health effects on pregnant women. Smoke increases complications in birth, can lead to premature delivery, decrease baby's weight and can also lead to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).