Passive Smoker: Know All Your Risks
Passive Smoker: Know All Your Risks
We all know the effects of tobacco on smokers, but rarely do we talk about another risk group that, despite not being smokers, is also affected by their health, these are passive smokers.
What is a Passive Smoker?
A passive smoker is the person who breathes in tobacco smoke involuntarily. That is, they are people who are regularly exposed to tobacco smoke. In the event that a pregnant woman smokes, the fetus is also considered passive smoker, since the components of tobacco smoke can cross the placental barrier and reach it.
Interestingly, it is estimated that 15% of non-smokers are passive smokers at home.
Breathing in an environment with tobacco smoke poses a risk to the health of all people, which does not exclude newborns, children or pregnant women.
Passive Smoker: Consequences
Even if the person does not inhale tobacco smoke directly, second-hand smokers also see their health impaired.
Did you know? A person who stays 5 hours a day in a 30m2 room, in which 2 cigarettes are smoked every hour, and in which the air is blowed once an hour, inhales the smoke equivalent to one cigarette.
You
By quitting, you begin to lessen the large impact that smoking has.
Smoking decreases your:
Smell and taste
Lung function
Smoking puts you at greater risk for:
Diseases in the Respiratory Tract
Passive smokers are 30% more likely to suffer from lung cancer, highlighting the cases of people who live with smokers.
In addition, passive smokers are also at higher risk of other respiratory diseases such as bronchitis or asthma.
Cardiovascular diseases
Passive smokers with cardiovascular disease are at risk of having a heart attack increases between 25% and 35%.
Smoking also speeds up the aging process and drains your finances.
What can a passive smoker do?
If you find yourself in a situation of passive smoking, we recommend that you communicate to your family, friends and fellow smokers on all the health risks involved in smoking in shared spaces in a respectful way. It is important that smoke-free zones are respected.
Finally, we recommend that you encourage them to quit smoking, with your help the path will be easier for sure!