What is secound hand smoking?

Secondhand smoke is the smoke that is exhaled by a smoker into the air and then inhaled by a nonsmoker. It is also known as environmental tobacco smoke (ETS).

Secondhand smoke contains over 7,000 chemicals, many of which are known carcinogens. These chemicals can cause a variety of health problems in nonsmokers, including:

* Heart disease

* Stroke

* Lung cancer

* Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

* Asthma

* Allergies

* Ear infections

* Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

Secondhand smoke is also harmful to children. It can cause them to have:

* Lower birth weight

* Increased risk of infant mortality

* More frequent and severe respiratory infections

* Asthma

* Allergies

* Ear infections

* Learning disabilities

* Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Secondhand smoke is a serious public health problem. It is estimated that secondhand smoke kills over 41,000 people in the United States each year. The best way to protect yourself and your family from secondhand smoke is to avoid places where smoking is allowed.