Health Risks and Infections Associated With Exposure to Secondhand Smoke

Introduction:

Secondhand smoke can be hazardous to health even with the slightest exposure. Any amount of brief exposure to secondhand smoke can cause serious health problems in pregnant women, adults, and children. A plethora of diseases can be caused by secondhand smoke such as coronary heart diseases, ear infections, respiratory infections, birth defects, and reproductive defects in females.

What Is Secondhand Smoke?

Secondhand smoke is also known as environmental tobacco smoke. It primarily comprises two types of smoke that is produced from tobacco combustion (burning).

1. Mainstream Smoke (Passive Smoke): The smoke that is produced when a person who smokes cigarettes exhales the smoke in the environment and it is this smoke that is inhaled by the non-smoking person as well.

2. Side-Stream Smoke: This type of smoke can be produced by the lit end of a cigarette, cigar butt, or hookah pipe. However, the side-stream smoke has elevated concentrations of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (nicotine) and other cancer-producing agents than passive smoke.

When tobacco smoke is inhaled through secondhand smoke, the concerned individual is actually inhaling the toxic agents, and nicotine in a similar manner as people who smoke inhale. The quantity of inhaled secondhand smoke is directly proportional to the amount of toxic chemicals being accumulated in the body.

Who Is at Higher Risk of Damage From Secondhand Smoke?

Although secondhand smoke affects any person who is present near to the exhaled burned tobacco, there are certain groups of people who are at a higher risk of secondhand smoke exposure.

• Bartenders- These are restaurant servers who may have to serve smokers because of their job.

• Pregnant Women- The fetus inside the womb and the mother, both can be at a greater risk of acquiring infection due to secondhand smoke. Cases of stillbirth, low-birth weight babies, and miscarriages are quite common in such conditions.

• Newborn Babies, and Young children- The effect of secondhand smoke in young children will be more profound if they are under constant exposure.

• Pet Animals- The animals cannot choose to leave a room that is filled with smoke. But secondhand smoke will cause harmful effects on their health too.

What Are the Health Risks and Infections Associated With Exposure to Secondhand Smoke?

1. Secondhand Smoke Causes Cardiovascular Diseases-

• Secondhand smoke can cause immediate and serious effects on the heart and coronary blood vessels. It can even cause strokes. In the United States alone, secondhand smoke has caused an estimated 35,000 premature deaths due to heart problems.

• The normal functioning of the coronary arteries and veins, heart, and vascular system is compromised due to secondhand smoke exposure.

• The incidence of heart attacks also increases in such cases.

• The endothelial lining of blood vessels can be damaged on slightest secondhand smoke exposure. Even the blood platelets try to stick more to each other (blood platelets clumping). These alterations in turn increase the potential risk of heart attacks.

• Arrhythmias (irregular heart rate) may also be experienced by the affected person.

2. Secondhand Smoke Causes Respiratory Infections-

• People affected due to secondhand smoke can experience increased incidences of bronchitis, pneumonia, and asthma.

• They are more susceptible to phlegm formation.

• They frequently present with symptoms like chronic cough, wheeze, and dyspnea (breathlessness).

• The severity and frequency of asthma attacks also increase due to constant exposure to secondhand smoke.

• Mainly, young children and infants are more subjected to the development of respiratory infections like acute bronchitis and pneumonia.

• It may lead to the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

3. Secondhand Smoke Causes Cancer-

• The risk of developing lung cancer increases by two to three fold in people exposed to secondhand smoke.

• The secondhand smoke comprises carcinogen agents and poisonous substances which if inhaled can lead to lung cancer.

• The longer the exposure period to secondhand smoke, the higher the risk of progressing to lung cancer.

• Cancers in other parts of the human body also become more common.

• Cancers can even develop in the urinary bladder, breasts, brain, and stomach region when the individual is getting constantly exposed to secondhand smoke.

• The risk of advancing into leukemias and lymphomas also increases.

4. Secondhand Smoke Causes Reproductive Health Diseases-

• During pregnancy, both the mother and the unborn baby are at a higher risk of developing health problems.

• Stillbirths, miscarriages, low-birth weight babies, ectopic pregnancy, rapid fetal heart rate, and premature child delivery are some of the adverse effects that can be seen in pregnant women if they are exposed to constant secondhand smoke.

5. Secondhand Smoke Causes Sudden Infant Death Syndrome-

• Sudden, unexplained death of a newborn baby can occur if they are exposed to chronic and continuous tobacco smoke due to secondhand smoking.

• The harmful and poisonous chemical substances produced during secondhand smoke can affect the child’s brain adversely causing unwanted death in a few cases.

6. Secondhand Smoke Causes Ear Infections, Eye Infections, and Tooth Infection-

Exposure to secondhand smoke can cause middle ear infections, cataracts, and even tooth decay (cavities) in individuals exposed to secondhand smoke.

How to Prevent Secondhand Smoke Exposure?

• Avoid standing or sitting at places where secondhand exposure can occur. This implies staying away from people who are chronic smokers.

• Avoiding sitting in bars and restaurants where smoking in any form is allowed.

• Proper ventilation of the room is also important for air purification or air filtration.

• Strictly refrain people from smoking inside the car or within the house.

• Government should make strict laws for prohibiting smoking at public places.

What Is Thirdhand Smoke?

Thirdhand smoke occurs when the harmful cancer producing chemicals such as formaldehyde, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, naphthalene, and others, along with nicotine settle on to dust particles on carpets, or furniture, and can seep into the clothes and even hair. It is also known as the residual tobacco smoke. This form of smoke actually lingers on long after the extinguishing of the tobacco product. This type of smoke can also be very harmful.

Conclusion

Exposure to secondhand smoke poses serious health hazards and can endanger the life of infants or unborn babies. It is high time for the people to realize that they are not only harming themselves by smoking but also damaging the lives of other people around them. Quitting cigarette smoking is the best precaution one can take to eliminate this grave problem. Non-smokers and pregnant ladies should find ways to stay away from people who smoke. Scientists should discover better ways to eliminate the health risks of secondhand smoke.