The Effects of a Secondary Chain Smoker

Breathing in secondhand smoke can be as dangerous as smoking, according to recent research. Secondhand smoke is the smoke that non-smokers, also known as involuntary smokers, breathe in when they're around someone who's smoking. Those who chain smoke will produce even more secondhand smoke, potentially harming those around them.

Secondhand Smoke

• Two types of smoke are produced when someone smokes a cigarette: side stream smoke that comes from the cigarette itself and the smoke the smoker exhales. Individuals who breathe in both types of secondhand smoke will take in the same dangerous chemicals as the smoker, according to the American Cancer Society. These include benzene, cyanide, lead and carbon monoxide, as well as other dangerous chemicals that have been proven to cause cancer and other lung disorders.

Heart Issues

• Secondhand smoking causes heart issues for involuntary smokers. According to the American Cancer Society, secondhand smoke is responsible for 46,000 heart disease- related deaths in nonsmokers every year. Like firsthand smoke, breathing in secondhand smoke puts stress on the heart and can cause heart attacks or death.

Infants and Children

• Pregnant women who breathe in secondhand smoke put their unborn babies at risk. Children born to involuntary smokers often have a low birth weight, and secondhand smoke may affect their lung growth. They also have an increased risk of dying from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, according to the American Cancer Society. Children who breathe in secondhand smoke are more likely to develop middle ear infections.

Cancer and Lungs

• Breathing in secondhand smoke increases your risk for lung cancer, and may contribute to beast cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Secondhand smoke causes lung infections such as pneumonia. Asthma is also caused or worsened by secondhand smoke. General lung issues of involuntary smokers may include frequent chest pain, coughing and decreased lung function.