Cigarette smoke is harmful to those who inhale it, whether they smoke or don’t smoke. Because cigarette smoke contains many harmful chemicals. People who inhale cigarette smoke regularly may be at risk of serious diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, or lung disease. In particular, children and infants who inhale cigarette smoke may be at higher risk of health problems than other age groups, such as respiratory diseases such as asthma, various infectious diseases, and sudden infant death syndrome.
In addition to direct smoking, exposure to cigarette smoke from the environment also has an impact on health. This article will mainly discuss the dangers of second-hand smoke. Which can be divide into two types: cigarette smoke that smokers exhale through their breath. And cigarette smoke from burning cigarettes, which contain a higher amount of harmful chemicals and smaller particles, making it easier for them to move into the lungs and cells in the body.
Hazardous chemicals in cigarette smoke
Cigarette smoke contains many chemicals. The tobacco plant, the main raw material used to make cigarettes, contains two dangerous chemicals: cadmium and lead. Many more chemicals are create during the manufacturing process. When a cigarette is lit. Burning creates new chemicals. Cigarette smoke contains up to 7,000 chemicals, of which at least 250 are harmful to the body. At least 70 chemicals are carcinogenic, such as acetaldehyde, benzene, chromium , cadmium , formaldehyde, and nickel. For this reason, the US Environmental Protection Agency has classified cigarette smoke as a human carcinogen.
The dangers of cigarette smoke
Inhaling cigarette smoke has many negative effects on the body and is also the cause of many serious diseases, such as:
- Cardiovascular disease: Cigarette smoke damages blood vessels and causes circulatory problems, which can lead to heart disease, heart attack, or sudden cardiac arrest, which can lead to death.
- Lung Disease Cigarette smoke can damage the respiratory system and cause respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- Lung cancer Non-smokers who regularly inhale second-hand smoke may be at higher risk of developing lung cancer than the general population. Research has shown that people who live with smokers are 1.2-1.5 times more likely to develop lung cancer than the general population.
- Breast cancer Some studies have found that women who regularly inhale secondhand smoke may be at higher risk of breast cancer than the general population.
- Leukemia: Benzene , a chemical found in cigarette smoke, may increase your risk of developing leukemia.
In addition, children and infants may be more vulnerable to the effects of secondhand smoke than people of other ages, with common health problems including:
- Low Birth Weight If a pregnant woman is expose to secondhand smoke or smokes regularly. It may result in the fetus having a birth weight that is lower than the standard.
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SDS ) is an unexplained death during sleep. It usually occurs in infants under 1 year of age. And may be caused by abnormalities. In the part of the brain. That controls breathing and wakefulness during sleep.
- Respiratory tract diseases Children who are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke may be at risk of developing asthma or chronic coughing, phlegm production, and wheezing.
- Infections: Children who are regularly expose to secondhand smoke may be at risk of various infectious diseases. Such as bronchitis, pneumonia, or otitis media. They are also more likely to catch a cold than the general population.
How to avoid cigarette smoke?
For smokers, they should be aware of the possible effects on those around them. Smoke only in designated areas, change clothes. And wash hands that may be contaminated with chemicals. from cigarette smoke before touching or holding children and infants, or decide to quit smoking. They can seek advice from staff at the Smoking Cessation Center via the 1600 telephone number or consult a doctor at a hospital with a smoking cessation clinic.
For non-smokers, you should follow these recommendations to prevent inhaling second-hand smoke.
- Avoid places where people smoke and stay away from smoking areas. Such as choosing to eat in restaurants where smoking is prohibited or staying in hotels with non-smoking rooms.
- Smoking is not permitted in vehicles. whether private or public.
- Smoking is not permitted in residences, workplaces or public places. Smoking is permitted only in designated smoking rooms or areas.