| Smoking is bad. This is an undeniable fact. Almost 1 | | | | smoke increases the coronary death rate among |
| billion men and 250 million women in the world smoke. | | | | non-smokers by 20 to 70 percent. |
| This represents about 35 percent of men and 22 | | | | Passive smokers exposed to 20 or more cigarettes a |
| percent of women in developed countries and 50 | | | | day increase their risk of developing cardiovascular |
| percent of men and 9 percent of women in the | | | | disease by many folds. The intensity of exposure to |
| developing countries. Smoking accounts for nearly 9 | | | | second-hand smoke and the time lapsed since the last |
| million deaths each year, of which half are due to | | | | exposure, are also important. |
| cardiovascular disease. | | | | The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that |
| If I do not smoke, I do not need to worry about it. This | | | | 700 million children are exposed to second-hand |
| statement is only partially right. People may not aware | | | | smoke. Second-hand smoke can cause a wide variety |
| that each time someone smokes, poisons are | | | | of adverse health effects in children including bronchitis, |
| released into the air. This means that the polluted air is | | | | pneumonia, middle ear infections, recurrent respiratory |
| inhaled by the smokers as well as whomever near | | | | problems, worsening cases of asthma, learning |
| them. | | | | difficulties, behavioral problems, and language |
| Second hand smoke (SHS) is the smoke that | | | | impairment. |
| individuals inhale when sharing the same airspace as | | | | Finally, there is evidence that links exposure to |
| smokers. It consists of main-stream smoke, smoke | | | | second-hand smoke to Sudden Infant Death |
| inhaled and exhaled by the smoker, and side-stream | | | | Syndrome or SIDS (cot death). This was previously |
| smoke that emits from smoldering cigarettes, lit-up | | | | thought to be linked but the association is now proven |
| cigars and pipes. | | | | by a new study. Pregnant women exposed to |
| Second-hand smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals | | | | second-hand smoke are predisposed to spontaneous |
| and at least 43 carcinogens (cancer-causing | | | | abortions and low birth weight babies. |
| substances), including formaldehyde, cyanide and | | | | America's Most Trusted Doctor Reveals ... How to |
| arsenic. 50 percent of these toxic chemicals are found | | | | Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease - Without Drugs |
| naturally in tobacco leaf, while the other half is | | | | or Surgery. Read more about his confession at: |
| produced when tobacco is burned. A smoke-filled | | | | Feel free to use this article on your website or ezine |
| room can contain up to 6 times the amount of polluted | | | | as long as the following information about author |
| air on a busy highway. Such smoke can take hours or | | | | website is included. |
| even weeks to dissipate from the polluted rooms. | | | | Heart Disease Prevention - 8 Simple Ways You Can |
| Second-hand smoke can lead to heart disease, lung | | | | Do Immediately, Go to: |
| cancer, high cholesterol levels, and an extremely high | | | | Feel free to use this article on your website or ezine |
| risk of stroke. The risk of heart attack almost doubles | | | | as long as the following information about author |
| if one is constantly expose to second-hand smoke. | | | | website is included. |
| Recent studies have also shown that second-hand | | | | |