Passive Smoking

Involuntary inhalation of smoke from tobacco is known as passive smoking. Depending on the extent of contact with an active smoker the passive smoker can have bronchitis and increased risk of chest infections. It often contains greater amounts of harmful chemicals like tar and nicotine.

Passive smoking increases the risk of heart disease, lung disease and various other diseases. People exposed to second hand smoking are at greater risk of lung cancer. In fact, the spouse or child of a smoker is more prone to illness related to smoke. The already present pollutants in the air along with the toxic pollutants produced during smoking make a very bad combination. It can lead to irregular heartbeats and heart attacks. People who are exposed to passive smoking in the home have a 25% increased risk of heart and lung disease than non exposed non smokers.

Passive smoking effects children’s health too. It increases the asthma attacks in children. It also aggravates respiratory problems. Exposure to second hand smoking can cause low birth-weight baby or miscarriage in pregnant women. Several studies have found that passive smoking can be accountable for increased risk of still births. It can also cause middle ear infection in children as well as behavioral problems. A Canadian study found that passive smoking reduced children’s ability to detect wide variety of odors. Nicotine dependent symptoms were seen in children whose parents smoked, even though these children had never smoked.

Over a long period of exposure, passive smoking can cause many of the same health problems as active smoking. Now that you know how much risk you are facing, avoid the company of people who smoke. If your spouse smokes encourage him to smoke outside.