Secondhand smoke, also known as passive smoke, is just as dangerous as smoking. In fact, according to the British Lung Foundation, passive smoke contains more damaging chemicals and fibers than the smoke inhaled by smokers through a filter. Breathing in secondhand smoke can cause numerous health problems for both smokers and nonsmokers. The risks are higher the more you are exposed to secondhand smoke, states the American Cancer Society.
Heart Disease
Nonsmokers who inhale secondhand smoke are at an increased risk of developing heart disease. Each year, secondhand smoke inhalation is responsible for causing approximately 46,000 cases of heart disease in nonsmokers who live with smokers, according to ACS. If you live with someone who smokes or you socialize frequently with smokers, you put yourself at a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. Secondhand smoke causes immediate reactions in your circulatory system, notes ACS. The lining of your blood vessels sustains damage and you develop stickier platelets in your bloodstream after you inhale tobacco smoke. The damage occurs even if you only inhale the smoke for a short period of time.
Cancer
Secondhand smoke is a carcinogen, which is a type of cancer-causing element. The risk of certain types of cancers, especially lung cancer, goes up when nonsmokers are exposed to secondhand smoke. According to ACS, breathing in secondhand smoke causes 3,400 lung cancer deaths in adults each year. Research suggests an increased risk of breast cancer, nasal sinus cavity cancer and some other types of cancers are due to secondhand smoke; however, this is still being determined, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Breathing Problems
Not only does secondhand smoke cause breathing difficulties for nonsmokers, it increases their risk of asthma, bronchitis and many other types of chronic lung conditions, according to the Mayo Clinic. Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at a particularly high risk of developing these types of conditions because it can stunt the growth of their lungs.
Risks for Children
Aside from the increased risk of breathing problems, children exposed to secondhand smoke are at a higher risk for sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, and chronic infections, particularly middle ear infections. Additionally, if you are pregnant and breathe in secondhand smoke, you are at increased risk of having a low birth-weight infant.
