We care about your health and well-being and that’s why we’ve written an article to let you know about the long term effects of secondhand smoke.
What exactly is secondhand smoke? Well, it’s the term used for the tobacco smoke that comes from a person who smokes and then goes out into the neighborhood, city, or streets. When it gets inhaled by non-smoking people, it becomes secondhand smoke.
Just like the smoker themselves, people who inevitably inhale secondhand smoke can be at risk for health problems because of the plethora of bad chemicals that are present in cigarette smoke. A 2016 study showed that secondhand smoke usually comes from people who are smoking indoors.
This is critically alarming since we may not realize that our kids could be inhaling tobacco by accident, which can have adverse effects on their health. This is why we need to educate people about the dangers of secondhand smoke and how to protect against it.
How long does it take for second-hand smoke to affect you?
As short as 5 minutes, you can already experience an ill effect from secondhand smoke, such as feeling stiff on your breathing. Blood clotting may happen if it goes to about half an hour and it can worsen to severe heart problems once you’ve been exposed to longer than 2 hours.
Also, if you have pre-existing conditions such as asthma, the bad effects of secondhand smoke could attack faster.
Is second-hand smoking worse than smoking?
Not exactly, but it doesn’t mean that secondhand smoking is not a serious topic to talk about. Both smokers and non-smokers who accidentally inhale secondhand smoke are at risk for lung and heart problems.
While the effect is not as direct as smoking, secondhand smoke can still harm a person’s body and overall health. In general, secondhand smoke is a bigger threat to the following:
- Children and the elderly. Secondhand smoke is detrimental especially towards people who have not-so-strong immune systems, such as children and the elderly.
Children aren’t aware of the bad effects of secondhand smoke so they are at greater risk, especially if their parents smoke. This goes the same for the elderly since their lungs aren’t as strong as they were when they were younger.
- Pregnant women. The chemicals in secondhand smoke have a big chance of causing birth defects, stillbirth, and other pregnancy or delivery issues. If you care a lot about your child, you should cover yourself against secondhand smoke and stay away from such polluted areas.
- People who work in restaurants and tourist spots. If you work in a restaurant where most people have the freedom to smoke in an outdoor area, there’s a bigger risk for you to inhale secondhand smoke from guests.
- Pets. Yes, even pets can get lung problems from inhaling secondhand smoke, just like with kids.
How much secondhand smoke is bad?
When you’ve been exposed to secondhand smoke for more than an hour, it can already give you some adverse effects for your heart and blood vessels, potentially constricting your breathing.
Don’t wait for secondhand smoke to build up in your body because the damage can be as irreversible as lung cancer and other respiratory problems.
Why are e-cigarettes unsafe?
Although e-cigarettes or “vape”, as most people called it, were popularized for being alternatives to tobacco products, most researchers found out that they do contain harsh chemicals that are still not good for the body, such as the following:
| Nicotine | Although the nicotine content in e-cigarettes is smaller in amount compared to tobacco, the fact that there’s still nicotine can still make it an unhealthy addiction for most people, since it can have adverse effects on the brain. |
| VOCs | Volatile organic compounds are considered air pollution since they have bad effects on human health, such as irritation and internal organ damage. |
| Formaldehyde | It is a carcinogen that can be present in vape juice when it heats up too much. Carcinogens are substances that can cause cancer. |
| Diacetyl | This is a chemical that is commonly present in vape juices that have flavors. Unfortunately, diacetyl has been linked to bronchiolitis obliterans so it’s not so lung-friendly either. |
| Heavy metals | There are a couple of heavy metals that can be found on e-cigarettes such as lead, tin, and nickel. This is likely due to the use of the heating mechanism to produce the vapor of the e-cigarette. |
As you can see above, VOCs or volatile organic compounds are found in most e-cigarettes, which can make them unsafe for human health. VOCs are listed in our air pollutants chart.
Can secondhand smoke kill you?
Yes, over time, it can. We’ve included it in our article regarding the health effects of air pollution on humans – tobacco smoke can have adverse effects on your health:
- Lung cancer – people who live with smokers at home are more likely to get lung cancer than those who don’t live with them. The chemicals in tobacco smoke can potentially trigger lung cancer and other lung problems even for non-smokers who were just unlucky to catch the secondhand smoke of their peers and/or family members.
- Heart problems – as we mentioned above, prolonged exposure to secondhand smoke can also worsen your blood vessels’ operation and can also pressure the heart, leading to a potential heart problem or disease.
But all is not lost – you can still shield yourself from secondhand smoke using methods to keep pollution at bay. For instance, an air purifier can clean up most air pollutants using its HEPA filter and activated carbon filter. Check out our picks for the best air purifier for cigar smoke.
Conclusion
In the long run, secondhand smoke is just as bad as regular tobacco smoking, so people who smoke should think twice before smoking in public or even beginning smoking the first place, as their actions can affect millions of lives.
If you live with someone with a smoking addiction, by all means, help them to quit with the help of doctors who specialize in that area. They can offer certain medicines that can help them to gradually quit smoking without side effects or the likelihood of relapse.
