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.