| Whether you like it or not, you are | | | | developing various kinds of cancer |
| exposed to passive smoke either in your | | | | increases as well. Children tend to get |
| workplace or public areas. Passive smoke | | | | middle-ear infection. Passive smoke also |
| causes at least 46,000 deaths in the | | | | put infants on greater risks of sudden |
| United States a year. No doubt, non | | | | infant death syndrome. Whereas, pregnant |
| smokers involuntarily subject themselves | | | | mothers are at increase risk of having |
| to the ill effects of passive smoke. You | | | | low weight babies at birth. The fact is |
| will treat passive smoke as hazardous to | | | | passive smoke can destroy your health. |
| you and your loved ones once you read | | | | There are certain people who encounter |
| and digest the facts and dangers of | | | | greater health risk. People who are more |
| passive smoke, the groups of people at | | | | likely to experience the adverse effect |
| risk, and ways to avoid the health risk | | | | of second hand smoke are pregnant women, |
| of cigarette smoke. This article will | | | | newborns, children, and teenagers. |
| change your attitude towards passive | | | | People who are diagnosed with asthma, |
| smoke and move you to protect the future | | | | chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |
| of your family. | | | | (COPD), and other respiratory illnesses |
| Passive smoke is also known as second | | | | are also at danger. |
| hand smoke or environmental tobacco | | | | Passive smoke do not only affect certain |
| smoke. A combination of sidestream and | | | | people but everyone who happens to be in |
| mainstream smoke make up passive smoke. | | | | the same environment as a smoker. |
| When a smoker exhales the tobacco smoke, | | | | Places such as public areas, work |
| it is known as mainstream smoke. | | | | places, and your home where smoking is |
| Sidestream smoke comes from the burning | | | | allowed can threaten a non smoker's |
| tip of the cigarette. Both of these | | | | life. To protect your loved ones, you |
| smoke contain similar chemicals. | | | | have to take certain measures. |
| Both sidestream and mainstream smoke | | | | Now that you are aware of the dangers of |
| contain 4,000 harmful chemical of which | | | | second hand smoke, it is time for you to |
| 80 are known to be carcinogenic. The US | | | | do something for your family and loved |
| Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | | | | ones. Start with your home. Make sure |
| identified second hand smoke as a Class | | | | nobody smokes in the home. If somebody |
| A carcinogen. It is the most dangerous | | | | smokes, encourage them to quit smoking. |
| indoor pollutant. People spend most of | | | | Choose to go to public areas which have |
| their time at home. Imagine if your home | | | | been assigned as smoke free zones. |
| is filled with smokers. It is like | | | | Separating non smoking areas from |
| living next to the exhaust of a running | | | | smoking areas will not help as tobacco |
| car. As passive smokers, your health is | | | | can travel easily through air duct |
| affected adversely. | | | | systems. Think of other creative ways to |
| Exposure to second hand smoke can cause | | | | prevent your loved ones from absorbing |
| you to develop sicknesses. You can | | | | this toxic pollution. |
| experience the immediate effects such as | | | | You don't need to depend on scientific |
| eye irritation, cough, headache, nausea, | | | | evidence before you decide passive smoke |
| dizziness, and sore throat. On the long | | | | is dangerous. It clearly endangers |
| term, you may suffer from respiratory | | | | anyone regardless of age. No one is free |
| illnesses such as pneumonia, bronchitis, | | | | from the dangers of second hand smoke. |
| and asthma. Let's not forget heart and | | | | Make sure you do all you can to protect |
| lung disease too. Your risk of | | | | your family. |