Brief Introduction (max 200 words)
Although it was believed for a long time that second-hand smoke only affects smokers, since the early 1980s it has been known that non-smoking family members of smokers have twice the risk of experiencing heart attacks than those in non-smoking households. Consequently, people living and working in environments that contain second-hand smoke suffer coronary heart diseases (CHD) due to the toxic substances of tobacco smoke.
Key concepts (max 500 words)
Second-hand smoke (SHS) consists of smoke from the burning end of a cigarette and the smoke breathed out by smokers. SHS contains more than 7,000 chemicals and more than 200 of these are known poisons, such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, and methyl isocyanate.
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Due to the plaque, arteries become narrower, slowly blocking the blood flow and causing increased risks of CHD. When the artery narrows and blood flow is reduced, the oxygen supply is decreased. Most of the time a blood clot forms and blocks the artery, thus stopping the blood flow. If the oxygen supply to the heart is reduced, a heart attack can occur. If the oxygen supply to the brain is cut off, a stroke can occur. Therefore SHS accelerates atherosclerosis in the arteries and aorta and the toxic substances in the smoke that builds up in the arteries, results in increased risks of getting cardiovascular diseases.
When someone smokes indoors, the smoke cannot be kept away by opening a window or using a fan. In fact, research shows that toxins from smoke remain in a person’s hair and clothes and the surrounding environment. These toxins, are hazardous to infants and children.
The only way to avoid the risks of smoke is to avoid places where smoking occurs. That can be done by making sure family, friends, and visitors never smoke inside your house or vehicle, thus helping to keep the house smoke-free by. Choose to eat in restaurants that are smoke-free as non-smoking sections do not provide protection from secondhand
There are approximately 4,000-7,000 chemicals in cigarette smoke. Chemicals included are: nicotine, tar, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, arsenic, acetone, benzene, butane, Cadmium and DDT. The chemicals previously listed are typically found within nail polish remover, hair dye, rat poison, rubber cement, active ingredients in battery acid, embalming fluid, and materials for paving roads. Forty-three of the chemicals within a cigarette are known cancer-causing compounds, and over 400 other toxins. In addition, depending on the type of cigarette that is smoked, the effects could be even more harmful to one’s body by containing more additives and chemicals than others (Kleinman, L., M.D., & D. M., M.P.H., 2016).
Smoking and arterial disease: Smoking tends to increase blood cholesterol levels. Furthermore, the ratio of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (the "good" cholesterol) to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol) tends to be lower in smokers compared to non-smokers. Smoking also raises the levels of fibrinogen (a protein which causes blood to clot) and increases platelet production (also involved in the formation of blood clots) which makes the blood stickier. Carbon monoxide attaches itself to hemoglobin (the oxygen-carrying pigment in red blood cells) much more easily than oxygen does. This
Atherosclerosis is a reduction of the arteries triggered by a buildup of plaque. It is also called arteriosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. Arteries are the blood vessels that transport oxygen and nutrients from the heart to the rest of the body. As the body gets older, fat and cholesterol can collect in the arteries and form plaque. The buildup of plaque makes it difficult for blood to flow through the arteries. This buildup may transpire in any artery in the body and can result in a shortage of blood and oxygen in various tissues of the body. Pieces of plaque can also break off, causing a blood clot. If left untreated, atherosclerosis can lead to heart attack, stroke, and heart failure. Atherosclerosis is a fairly common problem associated with aging. According to the University of Maryland
Have your child avoid exposure to smoke. This includes campfire smoke, forest fire smoke, and secondhand smoke from tobacco products. Do not smoke or allow others to smoke in your home or around your child.
Another form of smoking is passive smoking, also known as involuntary smoking. Passive smoking is when someone inhales the mixture of smoke that comes from the burning end of tobacco products, such as a cigarette, and is also the smoke exhaled by a smoker. This mixture of smoke is called “environmental smoke.” Environmental smoke contains more than 4,000 harmful substances and 40 of them are known to cause cancer. Although environmental smoke seems like less of a risk than mainstream smoke, which is inhaled by an active smoker, many of the substances are the same harmful toxins. In 1986, the National Research Council and also the Surgeon General announced that environmental smoke can cause lung cancer in non-smokers and also increase your risk for respiratory problems and decrease lung function in children of smoker parents. Also, in 1992, the EPA
To add, smoking not only affects the users bodies, but also it is dangerous for those who are around them. The CDC states that secondhand smoke contains 7000 chemicals, in which 70 of those are toxic and can cause cancer (“Effects”). Since 1964, the Surgeon General’s report stated that 2.5 million adults who have never smoked cigarettes in their life have died due to
Even being around someone who is smoking is bad for you. Unfortunately, just because someone stops smoking, it doesn’t mean the contaminates in cigarettes and cigars have disappeared. These harmful chemicals linger. If someone has smoked in your home, then it’s possible you are breathing in that contaminated air every day.
Children do not deserve to be exposed to such toxic things so young. They are innocent victims to their parents' bad habit and life choices. Children are vulnerable and clearly do not know what these chemicals do to their bodies so they are defenseless against the dangers of secondhand smoke. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also states, "Secondhand smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, hundreds are toxic and about 70 are known to cause cancer." I believe that it is not okay to for parents to think that
Another huge tobacco-related health problem is secondhand smoke. It is known to cause approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths and 35,000 heart disease deaths in nonsmokers each year. By definition it is a mixture of smoke given off by the burning end of tobacco products and the smoke exhaled by smokers. Secondhand smoke contains over 4,000
Thesis Statement: Smoking has many dangerous effects on a smoker 's health and the health of those around them; it harms every organ in the body and leads to premature death.
Health impact is not only on cigarette smokers but also the ones next to them. “Secondhand smoke is composed of side stream smoke (the smoke released from the burning end of a cigarette) and exhaled mainstream smoke (the smoke exhaled by the smoker)” (Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health, 2010). Report shows that the health impact on second-hand smokers is even greater than that on the smoker. (Schick, S., & Glantz, S., 2005) Third-hand smoke is the tobacco smoke that attached to clothing, wall, furniture, hair, skin and other materials after the cigarette is extinguished. So,
"Environmental tobacco smoke-the secondhand cigarette smoke breathed by nonsmokers is a known carcinogen and the most dangerous environmental pollutant."(Waxman 1995) Surprisingly secondhand smoke causes as many deaths as the tobacco smokers do. "Most people die from secondhand smoke each year than from car accidents."(Waxman 1995) There are a lot of reasons that causes the deaths from secondhand smoke. "Lung cancer is the best known risk from secondhand smoke."(Wilson 1997)
The effects of cigarette smoking can be horrifying. Smoking is dangerous not only to those who smoke, but to non-smokers and unborn children as well. Cigarette smoking is also physically and socially harming.
A major public health issue among young adults is cigarette smoking. Many people know the relationship between lung cancer and smoking, but there are countless other health risks linked to smoking. Smoking can increase your risk for cancer of the bladder, throat and mouth, kidneys, cervix and pancreas. Smoking not only affects the smoker but the people around them. About 54% of American children are exposed to secondhand smoke (“Smoking: Do you really know the risks?“). Nonsmokers who have high blood pressure or high blood cholesterol are at a greater risk of heart disease when exposed to secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke contributes to about 34,00 premature heart diseases and more than 7,000 lung cancer deaths (“Smoking:
We all know smoking is bad for us. But do you know exactly why? Smoking can lead to cancer and cancer can lead to death. That can put a big effect on a loved one. For the people that don’t smoke, smoking affects them as well. Smoking is killing society. Smoking is killing people slowly the ones who quick to light up a cigarette. Second-hand smoke affect society more than the person that’s puffing the cigarette.