| What are the health effects of second hand smoke, | | | | This doesn't mean that smoking is less dangerous for |
| also known as environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) | | | | the smoker since you are inhaling far more smoke |
| and the dangers you are exposing yourself and others | | | | compare to those non-smokers around you. That is |
| around you to. Most of the facts about health effects | | | | because mainstream smoke goes directly to your |
| of second hand smoke here is going to fall on deaf | | | | lungs and doesn't get mixed with the surrounding air. |
| ears since these are already known facts to smokers | | | | Second hand smoke or environmental tobacco smoke |
| but I have to point them out nevertheless. Perhaps it | | | | (ETS) can cause short term health problems and |
| hits a raw nerve in you this time round that makes you | | | | discomfort, including nasal discomfort, eye irritation, |
| decide to Quit Today! Good for you. | | | | headaches among others. Long-term health problems |
| Cigarette smoke contains more than 4000 different | | | | can also result directly from the inhalation of second |
| chemicals of which with at least 400 poisonous and | | | | hand smoke, including various cancers. |
| more than 50, cancer-causing ones. Second hand | | | | Studies have also shown spouses of smokers have a |
| smoke, Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) consists | | | | 34 per cent higher risk of getting lung cancer than |
| of both mainstream and sidestream smoke with each | | | | those of non-smokers. If you smoke around your |
| contributing 15% and 85% respectively. | | | | children, they are twice as likely to suffer from |
| Sidestream smoke, which goes straight into the air | | | | respiratory diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, and |
| without passing through the cigarette's filter has a | | | | pneumonia with a likely chance that they may take |
| higher concentration of chemicals compare to that of | | | | after your habit too. Non-smoking pregnant mothers |
| mainstream smoke. This is the stuff that you and | | | | who are near smokers also place their babies at high |
| everyone else (passive smoker) is breathing in. | | | | risk. |
| Some numbers on the amount of chemicals released | | | | As you can see, the health effects of second hand |
| into the environment via Sidestream smoke from | | | | smoke is not only going to affect you but your loved |
| cigarette: | | | | ones around you, shouldn't you be sparing some |
| Carbon monoxide - 15 times higher | | | | thoughts about what harm you can bring to them by |
| Nicotine - 21 times higher | | | | exposing them to this form of air pollution. Remember, |
| Cancer causing substance - Up to 130 times higher | | | | it's OK if you are the only one suffering as a result of |
| Irritant substance - up to 170 times higher | | | | your own action but don't bring it onto others! |
| (Source: World Health Organization) | | | | |