Why is passive smoking more harmful than active smoking? The harm of passive smoking for adults. The effect of smoking on the body
Tobacco addiction is a conscious choice of the smoker, who has every right to do with the body at his own discretion. However, most addicts poison not only themselves, but also the people around them, who are forced to breathe carbon monoxide, ammonia, cyanide and other products of cigarette combustion. What danger does it pose? passive smoking and ways to limit yourself from dangerous exposure tobacco smoke discussed in this article.
What is passive smoking
Passive smoking is intoxication of the body due to involuntary inhalation of air saturated with tobacco smoke. A smoker's lungs absorb no more than 20% harmful substances released during the smoldering of a cigarette, the rest is distributed directly around the source. One of the most dangerous elements released during a smoldering cigarette is carbon monoxide, but tobacco smoke includes a number of other equally dangerous components, such as:
- nitric oxide;
- various phenol compounds;
- hydrogen cyanide;
- acetone and ammonia.
Nicotine and carbon monoxide similarly spread in the air around a cigarette smoker, so people in the same room with him will be forced to receive an equally large portion of toxic substances. A hookah or cigar produces smoke in large quantities, therefore there is no harm from them smoking man higher.
A “side” stream that occurs during the combustion of tobacco, in contrast to the main one:
- contains 5–7 times more nicotine;
- 6–7 times more carbon monoxide;
- 3–4 times more resins.
After the cigarette has been smoked, not only the smoker himself, but also all the people present in the room continue to breathe poisoned air for a certain time (depending on ventilation). Even if you smoke in close proximity to a window or an open vent, a lack of oxygen, an excess of carbon monoxide and other highly toxic substances and compounds will form inside.
A passive smoker suffers serious damage to his own health, so he has the right to demand that an active smoker continue to smoke himself away from passers-by
It is important! If a non-smoking person smells tobacco smoke at a bus stop or any other public place, he has every reason to ask the smoker to stop poisoning the surrounding area and move to a place where his habit will not disturb strangers.
Why is passive smoking harmful?
The harm of passive smoking is underestimated by many, and has a very destructive effect on people free from tobacco addiction. Scientists have long established a close relationship between passive smoking and the occurrence of diseases of the following organs:
- gastrointestinal tract;
- organs genitourinary system;
- cardiovascular and nervous system;
- respiratory tract;
- bones.
Data from one authoritative English publication devoted to medical issues provide the following information: a person forced to spend a lot of time in a room where people constantly smoke loses visual acuity and is at high risk of developing diseases of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Tars and a number of compounds present in tobacco smoke have the ability to accumulate in tissues, and their complete removal from the body requires a long period of time.
The consequences of passive smoking look very depressing. A person who regularly stays in the same room with tobacco smokers may develop the following diseases:
- stroke;
- heart attack;
- cardiac ischemia;
- bronchial asthma;
- ear and lung infections.
If a woman is in a room with a smoker during any trimester of pregnancy, her likelihood of miscarriage increases significantly. premature birth and various disorders in fetal development. Systematic intoxication of the expectant mother with tobacco smoke has the most negative impact on the future health of the child, who has a high risk of hyperactivity, anxiety, depressive states and numerous health problems.
The harm of passive smoking is underestimated by many, and absolutely in vain
This is interesting! A person who is in the same room as a smoker consumes about a third of cigarettes through passive smoking. Statistics claim that 10% of patients who died from diseases caused by systematic tobacco smoke poisoning were not among the people suffering from addiction.
Important information
Passive smoking and its impact on health have not been fully studied by scientists at the moment, but the danger of a non-smoking person being in a smoky room is undeniable. The following facts will be of interest to both smokers and people forced to spend time in their company:
- If the driver smokes in the car, tar and toxic substances accumulate in the upholstery of seats and other interior elements. Staying inside such a car is unsafe.
- Even if the room is ventilated from tobacco smoke, a significant portion of harmful substances and compounds manage to be absorbed into furniture, carpets and clothing, causing harm to all inhabitants of the room for a long time.
Smoke remains for a long time not only in clothes, but also in hair, while tobacco tars and poisons worsen their structure and have a poisonous effect on the entire body. Despite the fact that being in a room where you consume an aromatic tobacco mixture through a hookah is more pleasant than in an ordinary smoking room, the harm from such passive smoking does not become less.
Harm to children, men and women
Children living in families of smokers are different reduced immunity and increased susceptibility to colds and allergic diseases. Regular intoxication of a child with nicotine and combustion products of tobacco leads to problems with the respiratory and nervous system.
Passive smoking is addictive, so we can say with a high degree of probability that a teenager living surrounded by smokers will reach for a cigarette very early. In women forced to spend time surrounded by cigarette smoke, the condition of the reproductive system worsens, and the ovarian tissue becomes critically thinner.
For men who do not suffer from nicotine addiction, you should also not be in the same room with smokers, since carbon monoxide and tars not only cause instant poisoning, but also negatively affect the functioning of the prostate gland and organs of the genitourinary system. Pregnancy and any type of smoking (including passive smoking) are completely incompatible concepts.
Tobacco smoke surrounding the expectant mother leads to a decrease in head circumference and chest in the fetus and row dangerous violations in the further development of the child. Most cases congenital disease atypical dermatitis is associated specifically with maternal passive smoking. If a woman breastfeeds in a smoky room, a significant part of the neurotoxic substances penetrates the baby's digestive tract.
Smokers who do not want to give up their own addiction need to completely protect their children from tobacco smoke
Children growing up in families where one or both parents are smokers get sick several times more often than their peers raised in families that adhere to a healthy lifestyle. In addition, the child learns early what a cigarette is, and in the future this can push him to imitate his parents and begin a strong nicotine addiction.
Teenagers who become part of the ranks of passive smokers are significantly more likely to suffer from tooth decay, vision problems, lack of body weight and various nervous system disorders, such as deterioration in memory and learning abilities.
The impact of passive smoking on various organs and systems
Why is passive smoking more harmful than active smoking? Many scientists believe that being in the company of smokers can have the most negative consequences for the condition of different organs, namely:
- Any smoke has an irritating effect on the respiratory system and contributes to the occurrence of vasomotor and allergic rhinitis, sore throat and dry nose. Chronic passive poisoning by combustion products leads to obstructive bronchitis and other diseases.
- Nicotine is a dangerous alkaloid that irritates the receptors of the nervous system. Therefore, a passive smoker becomes embittered, his appetite disappears and he often experiences a feeling of nausea, weakness and lethargy. Similar effects are provided by the neurotoxic psychostimulant effect of nicotine.
According to medical statistics, every year tens of thousands of children forced to be in the company of smoking adults develop asthma.
Each cigarette contains several thousand different substances and compounds, the vast majority of which are classified as the most dangerous poisons and toxins. They provoke hearing and memory deterioration, visual impairment, as well as critical damage to the central nervous system and nerve cells.
A person who is in the company of smokers absorbs poison both through the respiratory tract and through skin covering, which affects his condition. The skin of passive smokers appears dry and wrinkled, and characteristic circles appear under the eyes.
A passive smoker is a person who does not smoke cigarettes, but still inhales tobacco smoke. Many experts believe that this is much more dangerous. Active smokers exhale harmful elements found in cigarettes. A person who does not smoke inhales them, poisoning his own body. If there is an active smoker in the house, everyone in the household suffers.
A smoker in the house is a risk to others
Passive smoke inhalation is a dangerous activity. Most people don't even realize how negatively this affects their health. Inhaling toxic smoke is harmful to unborn children and affects the child and everyone around them.
If future mom lives with an active smoker and constantly inhales all the negative elements, this can affect the course of pregnancy. In such cases, the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth increases sharply. Saved high probability premature birth and sudden infant death. This is due to the weakness of the body, which finds it difficult to withstand the attack of harmful components from smoke.
Children at any age suffer. The child is most vulnerable to active components, located in the cigarette. If a baby systematically inhales smoke during the first 18 months, there remains a high probability of developing diseases associated with respiratory system. The child may suffer from shortness of breath, bronchitis and even pneumonia. Therefore, if parents think that there is nothing wrong with inhaling smoke, it is worth familiarizing yourself with this information.
People who do not smoke, but live with a person who is addicted to this harmful habit, often suffer from heart disease. vascular system. The level of antioxidants in their blood decreases, and atherosclerosis may develop. Finally, the possibility of lung cancer remains.
To summarize, it is necessary to highlight the following facts:
- passive smoking is dangerous;
- it causes a lot of complications in the child’s body;
- affects the baby in the womb;
- leads to the development of cardiovascular diseases;
- affects the respiratory system.
There is ample evidence that this type of smoking increases the risk of stroke, throat, nose and breast cancer.
Why is passive smoking more harmful than active smoking?
Second-hand smoking is much more dangerous than primary or regular smoking. Research on this issue continues to this day, but experts are inclined to believe that such effects on the body are much more harmful. Many scientists, including those abroad, are concerned about this problem. After all, the smoking trend is increasing, but at the same time, innocent people around us suffer. When a smoker finishes a cigarette, the flow of harmful components into his body stops. In this case, all components remain in the air for some time. That's why negative impact tobacco smoke spreads to others. Cigarette decay products get on your hair and are absorbed into clothes, furniture and other objects. There is no need to worry if a person has been negatively affected just once. But if there is an active smoker in the house, all pieces of furniture are saturated harmful poisons. This affects the health of all people living in the apartment.
Passive smokers suffer more due to the inability of the body. A person who smokes has become accustomed to his addiction. His body reacts normally to this. To the people leading healthy image life, the smoke poses a serious danger. It contains about 4,000 thousand different harmful components. They are released into the air, so smokers endanger everyone on the planet. About 69 substances out of 4000 are carcinogenic.
How to avoid becoming a hostage to second-hand smoke
How to behave in everyday life? If there is a person in the house who likes to smoke, it is necessary to protect this habit from others. It is recommended to install additional ventilation in the smoking area.
The air flow will remove all the smoke from the apartment, but will also enter the air outside.
This will negatively affect the condition of people outside this apartment.
What to do in the office? According to the law, people have no right to smoke in in public places, but everyone bypasses this ban. Therefore, it is necessary to indicate to management what is worth creating special place for smoking. This will protect the life and health of your work colleagues. At the same time, it is necessary to ventilate the premises more often, carry out wet cleaning and shake off dust from objects. Similar action needs to be repeated in a residential apartment.
Limiting passive smoking in children. It is recommended to prohibit family members from smoking in the apartment and near the child. You should not approach your baby for 10 minutes after smoking. Wet cleaning should be done more often, using soap solutions. The apartment must be ventilated about 4 times a day at any time of the year.
Many people have the selfish opinion that smoking is a personal matter. Cigarette addiction is the most common bad habit. And not just an addiction, but an already established addiction that ruins a person’s health. Does smoking affect others?
According to scientists, passive smoking is no less harmful occupation than active. That is why preventive medicine, disappointed in the effectiveness of the educational fight against tobacco smoking, turns to the administrative authorities for help. It is not for nothing that there is a ban on smoking in public places. Why? What consequences does this effect have on a non-smoker?
It has been proven that passive smoking is more dangerous than active smoking
This term means “unintentional/unwilling” to inhale the tobacco smoke that a smoker emits. This air is saturated with numerous toxic substances, which, when entering the body of a third party, provoke the development of ailments characteristic of avid cigarette lovers.
What is passive smoking
It has been established that a passive smoker, being in the immediate vicinity of a smoker, inhales about 70% of all carcinogenic compounds contained in smoldering cigarettes .
Composition of tobacco smoke
| Substance | Impact on the body | Dose received by a person from one cigarette (mg) | |
| Active smoker | Passive smoker | ||
| carbon monoxide | the appearance of migraine; nausea, urge to vomit; development of oxygen starvation | 18,5 | 9,4 |
| Nitric oxide | toxic compound has a toxic effect on the respiratory system | 0,5 | 0,4 |
| aldehyde | severe irritation of the respiratory tract; CNS depression | 0,8 | 0,2 |
| cyanide (hydrogen cyanide) | substance having high degree toxicity, it intoxicates most internal organs | 0,3 | 0,006 |
| acrolein | a product formed as a result of the smoldering of a cigarette, the substance destroys the mucous membranes of the bronchial membranes | 0,25 | 0,02 |
| resins | has a toxic effect on internal systems and organs | 25,5 | 2,3 |
| nicotine | has a destructive effect on brain cells and the central nervous system | 2,35 | 0,05 |
A passive smoker is a person who suffers no less from the consequences of smoking. Keep in mind that in addition to the main carcinogens, tobacco smoke contains more than 3,500 toxic compounds, of which more than 50 are dangerous carcinogens.
Which smoking is more dangerous?
Many doctors argue that the harm of passive smoking is much more pronounced than active smoking. There is several confirmations of this, obtained by American scientists as a result of a study of the effects of tobacco smoke on humans. Their conclusions are as follows:
- After smoking stops, the penetration of harmful substances into the smoker’s body also ends. The smoke remains in the air for some time and continues its poisonous effect.
- Toxic components of smoke settle on furniture, curtains, clothing, carpets and hair. If people smoke regularly in the room, then it is unsafe to be there even in the absence of a smoker.
- The body of a smoker is already somewhat adapted to the effects of tobacco carcinogens on it. The body of a passive smoker, without receiving daily “training,” is much more susceptible to tobacco smoke.
It has been proven that second-hand (passive) smoking is more poisonous than being near a diesel engine running at full power for half an hour.
Passive smoking and its impact on health
Many believe that the harm from second-hand smoking is no less than simply living in a large metropolis. But this is not entirely true. The harm from such exposure is not just great, it is enormous for the body of a non-smoker.
Passive smoking causes irreparable harm to health
It has been proven that the danger from this exposure increases significantly in the case of:
- in regular proximity to a smoker;
- being in a confined space with a smoking person;
- when pregnant women and children act as passive smokers.
Do not forget that smoke, which is easily absorbed into the clothes and hair of non-smokers, continues to exist even after smoking cessation. harmful effects. To fully understand the dangers of secondhand smoke, check out the following: negative consequences the effect it has on the body.
Respiratory system
Smoke from smoking is irritating to the respiratory tract. The constant exposure to tobacco vapor leads to the following unpleasant symptoms:
- Sore throat, feeling of a lump in it.
- Persistent dryness of the nasal and oral mucosa.
- Irritating sneezing when inhaling poisonous smoke.
Harm of passive smoking on the respiratory system
Long-term exposure to tobacco fumes not only causes inconvenience to a person, they provoke the development of dangerous diseases:
- autophony;
- bronchial asthma;
- eustachitis (tubo-otitis);
- persistent hearing loss;
- mucosal metaplasia (overgrowth);
- allergic and vasomotor rhinitis;
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
According to statistics, passive smokers are 6 times more likely to get sick bronchial asthma(compared to those who have never breathed tobacco smoke).
Brain and central nervous system
Passive smoking negatively affects the state of the human nervous system. The most typical manifestations of this situation are expressed in irritability and nervousness of a non-smoker. Nicotine in tobacco smoke has a depressant effect on the central nervous system and brain cells. This influence manifests itself in the following ways:
- insomnia;
- nausea;
- dizziness;
- loss of appetite;
- mood swings;
- lethargy and weakness;
- daytime sleepiness;
- feeling of devastation;
- inhibition of all reactions.
The cardiovascular system
Toxic and carcinogenic components of tobacco (cigarette) smoke are the main reasons for the development of many dangerous cardiac and vascular pathologies. Passive smoking for a long time leads to the following diseases:
- ischemia;
- hypertension;
- angina pectoris;
- atherosclerosis;
- heart attack conditions;
- weakening of vascular tone;
- abnormal heart rate (tachycardia, arrhythmia).
The most dangerous complication of passive smoking is the development of oblique endarteritis. This is a serious disease that can lead to death, and in best case scenario gangrene of the limbs.
Passive smoking negatively affects the functioning of the heart and blood vessels
According to statistics, long-term passive smoking increases the risk of stroke by 40%.
Visual system
About the fact that tobacco smoke hurts the eyes and causes profuse lacrimation, known to many cigarette lovers. Carcinogenic fumes also have a detrimental effect on the eye apparatus of a passive smoker. In addition to lacrimation and pain, you also have to deal with other harmful manifestations:
- sharp narrowing of blood vessels;
- drying of the ocular mucosa;
- allergic conjunctivitis;
- rhinitis with allergic manifestations;
- disturbance of trophism (cellular nutrition) of the cornea.
Reproductive system
Carcinogens from tobacco vapor have a powerful negative impact on the reproductive system (especially the female one). In women who are among passive smokers, there is a noticeable decrease in the ability to conceive a child and a shortening of the normal monthly cycle.
Smokers apply great harm own family
Less is known about the effects of cigarette smoke on male reproduction, but doctors are confident that given influence has a detrimental effect on the condition of sperm. It has been established that the number and activity of sperm suffers.
Deadly danger
Doctors researching the problem of passive smoking have identified large groups of people affected by this exposure in terms of the development of cancer. Similar studies were carried out in medical centers Australia, England, Germany and America. The scientists' conclusions are as follows:
- Passive smokers are 30% more likely to develop kidney cancer.
- The risk of developing lung cancer in passive smokers is 35% higher.
- Women who constantly inhale tobacco smoke suffer from breast cancer 65% more often.
As for cardiovascular diseases, inhalation of tobacco smoke causes about 3,000 deaths for citizens aged 25-60 years. For older people, the number of deaths varies around 7,000 annually.
Passive smoking and pregnancy
Only a woman is responsible for the life developing under her heart. Only she can decide in what conditions the child will develop. But as for passive smoking, in this case we can argue about deliberate harm to future life. What are the consequences of passive smoking during pregnancy?
Passive smoking is the main culprit in the development of cancer processes
Prolonged inhalation of cigarette smoke has been confirmed expectant mother is the cause of the development of such complicated pathologies as:
- premature birth;
- the birth of weakened children;
- risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome);
- spontaneous miscarriages (miscarriage);
- congenital diseases of an allergic nature in a baby;
- low weight of the baby, which leads to a deterioration in the child’s development mentally/physically.
Children and passive smoking
Unfortunately, many adults allow themselves to actively smoke in the presence of defenseless children. Although some smokers try to push away the smoke with their hands when they have a child, there is no benefit from these actions. But there is more than enough harm.
Second-hand smoke is especially dangerous for children
According to statistics, more than 200,000 cases of pneumonia and bronchitis are diagnosed in children every year. Of those sick, 80% are children of smoking parents.
The real scourge of modern kids - allergic dermatitis. This pathology is increasingly being diagnosed in children. Doctors have found that a greater percentage of diseases occur in families where there is a smoker. A mother breastfeeding a baby in a smoky, smoky room “gives” the baby a huge amount of carcinogenic substances that negatively affect general development child.
Being in a smoking family, a child receives a loading dose of nicotine
Children who are part of the group of passive smokers get sick much more often than their peers who are not exposed to tobacco smoke. According to research respiratory infections they are observed 9-12 times more often. Little passive smokers suffer and psychological problems. They find it more difficult to fit into children's groups, learn worse and perceive new information, have difficulty falling asleep and various behavioral deviations.
How to deal with dangerous influences
The most effective and radical method quitting passive smoking means eliminating any stay near the smoker, as well as in his place of residence. But, if this is not possible, there are a number useful recommendations how to soften Negative influence tobacco smoke:
| Smoking area | What to do |
| living conditions | install powerful hoods in places where people smoke; determine strictly designated smoking areas for household members; do thorough wet cleaning and ventilation of premises more often |
| office (place of work) | demand strict compliance with the regulations on smoking in public places; prohibit the use of cigarettes in offices; ventilate your workrooms more often; carry out daily wet cleaning |
| houses where children live | prohibit household members from using cigarettes in children's rooms; Keep people away from children for 10-15 minutes after smoking; carry out daily thorough wet cleaning; ventilate the apartment 3-4 times daily for 30-40 minutes |
| public places | avoid areas where there are concentrations of smokers; in cafes and restaurants, use rooms designated for non-smoking; after entering a smoky room, upon arriving home, change clothes and take a shower with mandatory rinsing hair |
Remember that passive smoking negatively affects everyone without exception. But expectant mothers and children especially suffer. And the most vulnerable are those living under the same roof with a cigarette lover. It is important that the smoker himself is aware of the harm he brings to his hobbies and does everything possible to minimize the consequences of such a harmful addiction. Take care of yourself and those around you!
Passive smoking is the inhalation of air containing tobacco products. The air contains harmful components of the smoke mixture from tobacco products(sidestream smoke) and exhaled smoke from a person smoking (mainstream smoke). When a non-smoker inhales tobacco smoke, he receives the same chemical components and toxins as a smoker. In this case, the person must be in close proximity to the smoker. Sidestream smoke is more toxic than mainstream smoke. Open window does not rid the room of cigarette smoke. The smoke from one cigarette can linger indoors for up to three hours. It sticks to furniture, carpets, walls and clothing. According to WHO, about six hundred thousand people die every year from passive smoking.
The effect of passive smoking on the human body
The harm from passive smoking is explained by the fact that tobacco smoke contains about four thousand harmful substances (including about fifty carcinogens), including formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, vinyl chloride, benzene, cadmium and nicotine. The effects of passive smoking on the body can be both short-term and long-term. With a single exposure, all harmful components of smoke are quickly removed from the body and neutralized. Prolonged exposure to smoke can cause coughing, shortness of breath, chest congestion, headache, wheezing, a sore throat. Tobacco smoke can also cause dizziness, weakness, and irritate the eyes. Regular inhalation of tobacco smoke doubles the risk of developing lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and tuberculosis. Passive and active smoking significantly increases the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, causing problems with breathing. Inhalation of second-hand smoke very often leads to the development of gastritis. As a result of passive smoking, sometimes there is a tendency to diarrhea or constipation.
The harm of passive smoking is that it is an established factor for the development of lung cancer. Scientists have proven that non-smokers Living with a smoker, the risk of developing lung cancer increases by 20-30% (compared to people who do not live with a smoker). It is estimated that more than three and a half thousand deaths from lung cancer occurring in Russia are associated with passive smoking. Smoking increases the risk of heart attack, interfering normal operation blood, heart and vascular system. That is why, with the existing cardiovascular diseases Even short-term exposure to tobacco smoke should be avoided to avoid suffering from its negative effects.
Why is passive smoking dangerous for children?
Children are very vulnerable to the effects of cigarette smoke. According to research, in Russia, fifty percent of children in Russia contain cotinine, a breakdown product of nicotine. Chemical components smoke inhaled by a nursing mother penetrates into breast milk. Infants exposed to secondhand smoke can also develop serious respiratory tract infections. Passive smoking in children can cause an asthma attack. Scientists believe that 50,000-200,000 pulmonary infections (bronchitis, pneumonia) develop in children under one and a half years of age due to regular inhalation of cigarette smoke. A child of a passively or actively smoking mother is most often born with reduced lung function.
Harm of passive smoking during pregnancy
Passive smoking during pregnancy can cause low weight newborn, which subsequently causes serious visual impairment. Smoke inhalation during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of fetal death from unknown causes. Under the influence of smoke, the fetus's heart rate increases and placental blood flow decreases, which can lead to miscarriage and premature birth. Children whose mothers smoked or inhaled second-hand smoke during pregnancy are more likely to suffer from poor alertness, obesity, and hyperactivity later in life. Scientists have found that newborns exposed to nicotine in utero tend to have impaired sensory and physiological responses, motor skills and attention in the first days of life. Regular inhalation of smoke increases the risk of early and early toxicosis. late pregnancy, difficult to treat. The risk of complications of conception, miscarriages and the course of pregnancy arises equally from both passive and active smoking. Scientists conducted special studies to find out why passive smoking is dangerous. Women who regularly have to breathe tobacco smoke have problems conceiving in 26% of cases, and the risk of miscarriage increases by 39%. In total, 40-50% of women experience certain problems as a result of passive smoking during pregnancy.
Smoking is the most harmful and common bad habit around the world. Doctors constantly talk about how harmful tar and nicotine affect the human body, they write on cigarette packages, parents tell their children from childhood, but despite everything, millions of people poison their health with cigarette smoke. But besides the active one, there is also. That is, even if you don’t smoke, but are in the same room with a smoker, you are no less susceptible to it harmful influence from cigarette smoke.
Passive smoking statistics
Passive smoking is a term that refers to the unintentional inhalation of air saturated with tobacco smoke released when smoking. At the same time, a passive smoker inhales up to 60% of the poisonous toxins contained in cigarette or cigarette smoke.
Interesting fact. In Russia, according to statistics, 60% of men are heavy smokers. Quantity active smoking women since the 90s of the 20th century it has almost doubled.
Harmful substances included in “side smoke”
A non-smoker, entering a smoky room, begins to experience headaches and nausea. Thus, it is affected by the carbon monoxide content in the air. When breathing, a person also begins to experience oxygen starvation.
The effect of smoking on the cardiovascular system
Also exposed to serious danger and the cardiovascular system. The smoke exhaled by a smoker contains a huge amount of toxins, which has an adverse effect on the condition. blood vessels, in the walls of which there is a significant decrease in elasticity. This increases the risk of developing angina and atherosclerosis.
Interesting fact. In the 2000s, in developed civilized countries, tobacco smoking caused 30% of all deaths of men that occurred between the ages of 35 and 70 years.
This can lead to coronary heart disease. Chronic oxygen deprivation of brain tissue, which occurs as a result of constant inhalation of toxic products from tobacco smoke, threatens the development of a stroke, causing the death of brain cells.
central nervous system
Prolonged inhalation of air saturated with tobacco smoke poisons a non-smoker and can lead to damage to the nervous system or chronic stress, which adversely affects the state of the human nervous system. It is especially harmful in tobacco smoke.
Nicotine at first activates nervous system, and subsequently oppresses her. As a result, insomnia, overexcitation, cough, headaches, nausea, dizziness, allergic reactions and other negative manifestations appear.
Lesions of the reproductive system
Smoking also affects reproductive system. Facts are widely known when wives heavy smokers, smoking at home, lose the ability to conceive over time. Menstrual cycle becomes shorter and ovarian depletion appears much earlier.
General risks
There is a strong opinion that passive smoking is much more more harmful than smoking active. This common view has been carefully examined by researchers at the International Agency for Research on Cancer. They came to the same conclusion that this was true. It would seem that at first glance, both passive and active smokers inhale the same smoke, but indisputable facts have been found indicating that the human body is not more predisposed to the occurrence of cancer pathologies.
Interesting fact. 95 out of 100 lung cancer patients are heavy smokers.
According to research, tobacco smoke contains about four hundred thousand toxic chemicals, about sixty-nine of them are carcinogens present in smoky air and in much higher concentrations than when directly inhaling tobacco smoke. For example, benzopyrene (polycyclic hydrocarbon, first class of hazard) is contained in tobacco smoke 3-4 times more, and volatile nitrosamine (aryl or alkyl radical) is 50-100 times more.
The harmful effects of secondhand smoke on children
Adults can easily protect themselves from passive smoking and harmful inhalation of tobacco smoke, which cannot be said about children, especially infants. Damage caused by tobacco smoke to fragile children's body catastrophically dangerous. The concentration of toxins that a child receives when inhaling tobacco smoke has a significant impact on the immune system. The situation is aggravated by the fact that, unlike an adult, a child cannot independently go outside or ventilate the room.
As shown Scientific research, the risk of respiratory diseases, colds, allergic reactions, asthma among children increases by 95% in cases where during the feeding period the mother actively smokes or holds the baby in her arms while smoking.
All adult diseases - bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia, otitis media, rhinitis, disorders in gastrointestinal tract, allergies, malignant formations And respiratory diseases may occur in a baby due to passive smoking. There is also a high risk of neurological disorders in children in whose presence their parents smoke. Such children begin to lag behind in development, both mental and physical, which can also lead to disturbances in the child’s psycho-emotional state.
Minors who are constantly exposed to toxins become apathetic, lethargic, sick, or, conversely, aggressive, inattentive, hyperactive, and unable to concentrate. All this can have a detrimental effect on learning at school and his relationships with peers.
Impact of smoking during pregnancy
Passive smoking is especially dangerous for the health and life of an unborn child in the womb. During pregnancy, the expectant mother must clearly understand that she is in close direct contact with the child, and inhaled toxins and harmful substances enter not only her blood, but also the blood of the child.
What dangers threaten the fetus?
The most tragic situation is the death of a baby in the womb of its mother.
Slowing down the development and growth of the child. Mothers of smokers, as well as passive smokers, often give birth to low birth weight children.
Interesting fact. For women who smoke, the risk of premature birth increases to 27%, and for their daughters it already reaches 29%. And if my grandmother also smoked, then the risk early birth increases to 60%.
The risk of having a baby increases birth defects: cleft palate, cleft lip, strabismus or clubfoot.
Fetal hypoxia is usually caused by a disturbance or change in placental blood flow. As a result, the baby may experience developmental and intellectual disabilities.
Effect of smoking on pets
Pets living in smoky areas have a huge number of health problems. For example, after castration, obesity develops, and in some cases even cancer. Studies have shown that cats are the most vulnerable pets. With constant and thorough washing, harmful, carcinogenic particles enter their body, which are absorbed into the wool in a smoky room. And, due to their short stature, they inhale to a greater extent carcinogens that are found in house dust on carpets, floors, and carpets. And even with free range, the risk of developing diseases does not decrease.
Scientists have also found that dogs, especially neutered ones, that live with smokers are more likely to become obese than those with non-smoking owners. In the course of research, it was discovered that the gene for cell damage in dogs of smokers is significantly higher than in non-smoking owners.
The effect of electronic cigarettes on passive smokers
It is believed that smoking electronic devices, unlike traditional tobacco smoking, does not annoy or irritate others with the smell of tobacco and does not harm with toxic smoke. But recently it turned out that vapors also settle on furniture, walls, windows and other objects. Passive smokers do not directly inhale harmful smoke, but scientists have not yet determined how safe the nicotine residue in indoor environments is for health.
Smoking EC, or so-called “vaping,” is considered a more gentle option for maintaining nicotine addiction. The effect on the body is not so dangerous, but when correct dosage the smoker receives the required dose of nicotine and feels quite good. 10 years of existence on the market is not very long term to assess the consequences of using e-cigarettes. But, given that nicotine in any form is harmful and dangerous, e-cigarettes are used as a first step towards quitting this habit, and not as an alternative to smoking.
The effect of secondhand hookah smoking
There are many versions and opinions in defense of hookah smoking, but in general it is bad habit. There is practically no smoke coming from the hookah itself, unlike a cigarette, which creates enormous harm from passive smoking. The combustion temperature in a hookah of tobacco does not reach 200 degrees Celsius, while in a cigarette this figure reaches 900 degrees. The smoke exhaled when smoking a hookah consists of only 142 chemical elements, in contrast to cigarette smoke, which contains about 4,700 chemical elements. Latest Research showed that passive smokers of hookah smoke inhale up to 59% of harmful substances.
Prevention of harmful effects from passive smoking.
Everything is simple here. To reduce the harm of passive smoking to the maximum, it is necessary to carry out comprehensive preventive measures smoking. Introduce new restrictions. But don’t forget about the alternatives.
Smoking prevention includes a number of regulatory and legislative acts, as well as information and valeology work.
Today, in a situation where there is a lack of visual propaganda, such as stands of booklets, leaflets, it is simply necessary to intensify propaganda about the dangers of smoking. It is also vitally necessary to restore in full the periodic lectures by nursing staff and doctors on the dangers of smoking and especially passive smoking.
IN therapeutic work it is necessary to pay particular attention to the emergence somatic diseases in passive smokers and draw the attention of patients to this.
Is it true that passive smoking is more harmful than active smoking?
When a smoker lights a cigarette, he inhales nicotine and other harmful substances, which can be roughly taken as 100%. When exhaling 60% of these substances, he inhales, that is, the smoker gets 40% of harmful substances, and next standing man- 60%. Due to the conscious choice of the smoker, his body is forced to adapt to the bad habit.
He develops immunity directly to the substances contained in cigarettes. Non-smokers do not have such immunity, as a result of which their body is most susceptible to poisoning by tar, nicotine and other components of the smoke exhaled by an active smoker.
By the way, in families with small children and an adult who smokes, when smoking one pack of cigarettes a day, as much nicotine enters the child’s body as if he had smoked 2-3 cigarettes. And the smoke exhaled after inhaling a cigarette is several times more toxic than when inhaled. In this regard, those around a smoking person inhale air that is many times more toxic than the person himself.
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