Chapter 3: Second Hand Smoke

I'm sure that most of you have heard about the dangers of second-hand smoke, related to nonsmokers. This chapter will discuss second hand smoke in detail, including its effects on others around you while you are smoking. As you read through this short chapter, think about the others who are around you when you smoke; your spouse, your children, your co-workers and even your pets. You are about to learn what your second hand smoke is doing to them.and most of you will be stunned.

Second hand smoke is also known as Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS). This is most easily defined as the smoke from other people's cigarettes. Issues concerning second hand smoke are becoming more and more popular as studies are beginning to show how harmful it is to people that do not smoke.

First of all, it's important for you to realize that second hand smoke can linger in the air for hours after a cigarette, pipe or cigar has been extinguished and the smell is gone, while non-smokers involuntarily and unknowingly inhale it. This is the main reason that most US states have adopted the "Smoke Free State" laws.

Second hand smoke is known to exacerbate, or worsen certain diseases such as asthma, respiratory infections and cancer. In other words, your second hand smoke can make a sick person even sicker. If this wasn't bad enough, second hand smoke can also make a healthy person sick as shown in the following list. (United States figures)

• Second hand smoke causes approximately 3,400 lung cancer deaths in adult nonsmokers every year.
• Causes between 22,000-69,000 heart disease deaths in adult nonsmokers every year.
• Contains hundreds of toxic chemicals.
• Has caused 150,000-300,000 cases of respiratory infection in children under 18 months old, resulting in 7,500-15,000 hospitalizations and approximately 1,900-2,700 cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
• Aggravates asthma symptoms in approximately 1,000,000 children every single year.
• Heart Disease, Lung Cancer and Other Cancers resulting from second hand smoke kill over 60,000 nonsmokers annually.

If you stop and think about the list above for just one moment, you'll not only realize how unjust this is, you'll begin to realize why all of the indoor smoking laws are being created across the United States and the rest of the World.

Second hand smoke can be identified in two different categories:

Sidestream Smoke, which is the smoke produced at the tip of the cigarette that is not inhaled by a smoker.

Mainstream Smoke, which is the smoke inhaled and exhaled by a smoker.

Because sidestream smoke is produced at a lower temperature than mainstream smoke, it gives off even larger amounts of illness-causing substances. If you have ever looked closely at sidestream smoke compared to exhaled smoke, you have actually seen the difference. Sidestream smoke is more opaque and harder to see through.

More ETS Facts:

Read through the lists below and remember that we are talking about people that do not smoke. They simply live their lives around people who do smoke. The results on nonsmokers living in such an environment cause the following problems:

Short Term Effects of ETS on Nonsmokers

• Coughing
• Eye Irritation
• Sore Throat
• Headache
• Sneezing
• Runny Nose
• Headache
• Asthma Attacks
• Shortness of Breath
• Arrhythmia (irregular heart beat)

Long Term Effects of ETS on Nonsmokers

• Aggravation of Allergies
• Lung Problems (Bronchitis, emphysema, pneumonia)
• Increased Risk of Heart Disease
• Increased Risk of Cancer (especially lung cancer)

Fact: A nonsmoker who is living with a smoker has a 30% greater risk of developing lung cancer than a nonsmoker living with a nonsmoker.

Hopefully this will make you think twice when you decide to light up around people who do not smoke. When they say that their main complaint is the awful smell, I think they are being quite generous. Some nonsmokers will come right out and tell you that you are killing them by smoking around them. Now you know that they are not only serious, they are right!

Second hand smoke is a serious issue which has come into the spotlight over the last several years. Most smokers have simply ignored the facts that we discussed above. We told the non-smokers to, "Live with it," or to just go elsewhere. How fair is that?

Finally, let's not forget the children. Kids and infants don't have the freedom to just go away.and if you tell them to live with it, guess what; they don't have a choice but to inhale your lethal second-hand smoke. If you take anything away from this ebook, remember to get away from children if you are going to smoke!

Although this was a short chapter, you should realize now how important the issue of second hand smoke really is. Again, think about who is around you when you smoke and think about the effects your second hand smoke is having on them.

Think About This When You Smoke:

Be completely aware of your surroundings and the people or animals that are around you when you smoke. Think about what you are doing to them without their consent and remember that the toxic chemicals will linger in the air for hours after you extinguish your cigarette.

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