Passive Smoking: Its Impact, Who Is At Risk & How To Protect Yourself

You might have some idea of the havoc smoking can wreak on your health. Firstly, it’s detrimental to the respiratory system, can make you prone to heart diseases, increases the risk of pregnancy complications, weakens the immune system, increases the risk of certain cancers, and is extremely bad for oral health. This is what active smoking can lead to. But what about passive smoking, i.e. what happens when you are exposed to the fumes when someone else smokes. What are the health implications, does it damage health as much as active smoking does, who all are at greater risk, and how can you protect yourself? To get answers to these questions, Onlymyhealth spoke to Dr. Sandeep Bhatnagar, Senior Director, and HOD, Internal Medicine, Paras JK Hospital, Udaipur.

Cigarettes contain tobacco. The World Health Organisation (WHO) says over eight million people die of tobacco every year. In fact, it kills half of its users. Out of the eight million people killed by it, 1.2 million are non-smokers, i.e. those who are exposed to second-hand smoke. This is a staggering number, hence, knowledge on how to protect oneself as well as the health implications are crucial.

How Does Passive Smoking Impact Health?

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Passive smoking poses several health risks such as:

• First and foremost, inhaling or coming in contact with tobacco smoke is extremely detrimental to the lungs and other vital organs of the body. 
• Nicotine is the name of a chemical present in tobacco smoke, which can affect heart health.
• Notably, second-hand smoke can damage the lungs as much as active smoking does.
• Passive smoking can cause several respiratory diseases.
• It makes you prone to asthma, bronchitis, shortness of breath, COPD (chronic inflammatory lung disease), stroke, etc.
• Long-term exposure to tobacco smoke can lead to lung cancer.
• Not just respiratory illnesses, exposure to second-hand smoke can increase the risk of neurological issues as well. 

Hence, as you can see that not just active smoking, but passive smoking also increases your risk of several serious health issues. 

Who Is At A Greater Risk?

As you already saw, exposure to second-hand smoke is extremely detrimental to health as it makes you prone to myriad diseases. However, some are at a greater risk of these diseases than the rest. Such people include:

• Children
• Elderlies
• Those with comorbidities
• Diabetic patients
• Hypertensive patients
• Those infected with HIV

Consistent passive smoking can increase the risk of the above-mentioned diseases. It can narrow the blood vessels, affecting blood pressure, health functioning, and the supply of oxygen-rich blood.

Also read: These 3 Things In Your Kitchen Can Help You Quit Smoking. Answers Dietitian Swati Bathwal

Is Passive Smoking As Bad As Active Smoking?

“Yes, it is,” says Dr Bhatnagar.

• In fact, it can be even more dangerous for children, those with comorbidities, and any underlying chronic diseases.  
• Nicotine and carbon monoxide are two major chemicals present in tobacco smoke. These can potentially affect the functioning of heart health. It also affects blood veins by narrowing these and thus increasing the risk of major cardiovascular diseases.

Hence, it is extremely crucial to protect yourself as well as your family from second-hand smoke.

How To Protect Oneself From The Harmful Effects Of Passive Smoking?

(Photo Credit: Freepik)

As you already know passive smoking, just like its active counterpart, is extremely detrimental to your health by putting you at risk of several health issues. Hence, you must take appropriate steps to protect yourself from second-hand smoke. This is how you can do it:

• First and foremost, abstain from smoking for the sake of your health and well-being and those of people around you.
• Maintain a safe distance from active smokers when they smoke.
• Never allow anyone to smoke at your home or any confined space you are living in, as it causes toxic indoor pollution.
• Avoid going to smoking areas and take extra care of children in this regard. 

So, as you saw, passive smoking can also be injurious to health. Not just respiratory illnesses, it makes you prone to heart health issues, neurological conditions, as well as certain cancers. Although as opposed to active smoking, you have very little control as far as second-hand smoke is concerned. However, there are some simple ways by which you can protect yourself and your family from its menace.

(With inputs from Dr. Sandeep Bhatnagar, Senior Director and HOD, Internal Medicine, Paras JK Hospital, Udaipur)

Photo Credit: Freepik