New Delhi. People generally know about the harm caused to health by smoking cigarette or bidi, but it can also have a serious impact on the health of the people living around the person who smokes. This is called secondhand smoke or passive smoking. In this, the person does not consume tobacco himself, but inhales the surrounding smoke into the body.
If a person lives for a long time in an environment where smoking occurs regularly, he may be exposed to harmful chemicals present in tobacco smoke. Its effect depends on many factors like age, amount of smoke and duration of exposure. Frequent or prolonged exposure to secondhand smoke can increase the risk of many health problems.
effect on lungs and breathing
The most direct impact of secondhand smoke can be on the respiratory system. Exposure to smoke can increase respiratory problems. This can cause symptoms to become more severe in people suffering from asthma. Even in children, chronic exposure to tobacco smoke has been linked to breathing difficulties and frequent respiratory infections.
Danger to heart and blood vessels too
The effects of passive smoking are not limited to the lungs only. The substances in tobacco smoke can also affect the heart and blood vessels. Prolonged exposure to it can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, a person's continuous smoking at home or workplace should not be ignored as just his personal habit.
Children need more caution
Children may be more sensitive to secondhand smoke. Their lungs are still in the process of development. In such a situation, due to continuous exposure to smoke, they may face problems like cough, difficulty in breathing and frequent respiratory infections.
If someone in the house smokes, it is important to keep children away from the smoke. Simply smoking in another room should not be considered sufficient protection. The better option is to keep the house completely smoke free.
It is important to avoid smoke even during pregnancy
It is especially important to avoid tobacco smoke during pregnancy. Even if a woman herself does not smoke, if she is constantly exposed to secondhand smoke then it can be a matter of concern. Therefore, keeping the environment around a pregnant woman smoke-free is better for her as well as the baby.
The best protection is to stay away from smoke
The most effective way to avoid secondhand smoke is to avoid smoking environments. Keeping places like home, vehicle and workplace smoke-free can reduce unwanted exposure to smoke. It is especially important to keep children and pregnant women away from tobacco smoke.
Therefore, the harm of smoking is not limited only to the person who smokes cigarettes. The people around him may also have to suffer the consequences. This is why avoiding smoking in family and public places is equally important for the health of others.