What happens if you live with smokers but breathe in the Smoke?
Second-hand smoke, also known as environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), is the smoke that is exhaled by a smoker or that comes from the burning end of a cigarette, pipe, or cigar. It contains over 7,000 chemicals, including many known carcinogens, and is a major cause of preventable death.
Living with smokers and breathing in second-hand smoke can have several negative health effects:
1. Respiratory Problems: Second-hand smoke can irritate the airways and lungs, leading to respiratory problems such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and asthma attacks. Children who live with smokers are more likely to develop respiratory infections, including bronchitis and pneumonia.
2. Heart Disease: Exposure to second-hand smoke increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attacks, strokes, and peripheral artery disease. The chemicals in second-hand smoke damage the heart and blood vessels, leading to atherosclerosis, the narrowing of the arteries.
3. Cancer: Second-hand smoke is a known human carcinogen and has been linked to various types of cancer, including lung cancer, nasal cavity and sinus cancer, throat cancer, and leukemia in children.
4. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS): Second-hand smoke exposure during pregnancy and after birth increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in babies.
5. Ear Infections: Children who live with smokers are more likely to develop ear infections, such as otitis media.
6. Asthma: Second-hand smoke exposure can worsen asthma symptoms and increase the risk of asthma attacks.
7. Reduced Lung Function: Long-term exposure to second-hand smoke can lead to reduced lung function and an increased risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
8. Pregnancy Complications: Exposure to second-hand smoke during pregnancy can increase the risk of premature birth, low birth weight, and other adverse outcomes.
9. Vision Problems: Second-hand smoke exposure has been associated with an increased risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of vision loss in older adults.
10. Hair Loss: Second-hand smoke exposure can lead to hair loss and damage hair follicles.
It's important to note that the effects of second-hand smoke are cumulative, meaning that the longer and more frequently a person is exposed, the greater the health risks. Protecting oneself from second-hand smoke exposure is crucial for maintaining good health and reducing the risk of developing smoking-related diseases.