Passive Smoke Dangers

Passive smoke can also be referred to as secondhand smoke or environmental tobacco smoke and can be deadly if inhaled over a long period of time. Being able to identify passive smoke is the first step in keeping healthy and staying informed on the health risks involved. The long and short term effects of passive smoke can be bothersome and severe and deserve prompt attention and medical care if symptoms appear after exposure.

Identification

Passive smoke can come from someone else smoking a cigarette or cigar. When the cigarette or cigar begins to burn the paper and tobacco, carcinogens from inside begin to form into smoke and the chemicals are expelled into the surrounding air. A thick layer of white or gray smoke is always prevalent during smoking as well as several minutes thereafter. Walls and furniture can also be stained a brownish gray color resulting from the smoke actually discoloring paint and fabric. Passive smoke can be found nearby someone who smokes either in their home, vehicle or social setting. One can also find passive smoke at many restaurants and bars and some public facilities were smoking bans have not yet been enforced.

Effects

At first, breathing in someone else's cigarette or cigar smoke may not seem too troublesome. One may think it won't affect their health because they are not directly smoking the cigarette or cigar. But, in fact, it is worse because as the smoke source is being burned, the byproducts, waste and carcinogens are being expelled into the air making it twice as harmful and deadly as smoking the cigarette itself. What happens with short term exposure to passive smoke is that one can experience the following symptoms, difficulty in breathing or catching ones breath, acute asthma attacks, sore throat and a stuffy nose. Those who already have asthma or breathing issues may be forced to use their inhalers or portable breathing machines in order to find relief.

Time Frame

With short term exposure to environmental tobacco smoke the side effects typically occur immediately upon exposure and then subside when smoke has been diminished and cleansing of the body and clothes has taken place. For long term effects for those who have been exposed to smoke continuously for months or years, the symptoms can worsen and continue on throughout the length of the exposure. Once removed from the smoke, adequate healing within the body can take place as well as treatment for the exposure that may require a breathing machine, oxygen or for more intense diseases, medications and surgery.

Warning

With long term exposure from passive smoke for both the person who does not smoke as well as the one who does, more serious life threatening conditions can develop. Some of the more serious long term exposures involve health consequences that cause irreversible damage that can be deadly if untreated such as heart disease, COPD, lung and throat and cancer, chronic bronchitis, chronic infections including infections of the nose, ear and throat, premature pregnancy, still born delivery, birth defects and macular degeneration.

Prevention/Solution

There are ways to avoid passive smoke, one way is to leave the room when others light up a smoking device. Only enter buildings that clearly state they are smoke free. Surround yourself in a smoke free environment as well as those you associate with. If you have to be around passive smoke, try to limit your exposure and seek fresh clean air as soon as possible. Taking a shower and washing all clothes and other exposed items is also the best way to avoid inhaling excess carcinogens that may be attached to clothing. If more serious health conditions have arisen from passive smoke exposure such as COPD or cancer it is essential to begin treatment and take medications immediately to avoid progression or worsening of the disease.

Resources

• American Lung Association