SECONDHAND SMOKE

Text Box: Who Is At Risk?

Objectives

To address the serious health effects associated with secondhand smoke

To educate communities on protecting themselves from exposure to secondhand smoke




Facts About Secondhand Smoke

Secondhand smoke is the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States.

It contains over 4,000 chemicals.  More than 60 of these chemicals are known or suspected to cause cancer.




What is Secondhand Smoke?

Secondhand smoke is the combination of two forms of smoke from burning tobacco products:
Side-stream smokeis smoke that is emitted between puffs of a burning cigarette, pipe or cigar.
Main-stream smokeis smoke that is exhaled by the smoker.


Cigarette Equivalency



Who is at risk?
Fetuses

When a woman smokes during pregnancy, the nicotine may cause constrictions in the blood vessels of the umbilical cord, thereby decreasing the amount of oxygen available to the fetus.  This increases the risk of complications such as:

Miscarriage

Premature birth

Stillbirth

Spontaneous abortion




Who is at risk?
Newborns

Babies born to mothers who smoke during pregnancy have an increase risk of:

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Lower birth weight

Mental retardation

Brain dysfunction

Respiratory infections




Who is at risk?
Children & Teens

The Surgeon General and the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) strongly urge that smoking in the
presence of children and teens be avoided.
Why?
Children suffer from bronchitis, pneumonia, hyperactivity, middle ear infections, upper respiratory infections, and are frequently hospitalized.


Teens are more likely to become smokers themselves.  As a result, they will suffer greater long-term health effects such as cancer, heart disease and progressive lung disease like emphysema.




Who is at risk?
People With Asthma

During an asthma attack, the air passages constrict & block the free flow of air in and out of the lungs.  This happens when people are exposed to smoke.

Characteristics of an asthma attack include:

Tightness in the chest and shortness of breath,

Wheezing and unexplained coughing,

Trouble talking,

Bluish lips & fingers due to lack of oxygen, and

Suction of the skin around the ribs.




Smoking Impacts  

Smoking has a negative health impact on people of all stages of life.  

It harms unborn babies, infants, children, adolescents, adults, and seniors.




Take Action

Keep your home and the vehicle free from smoke.

Avoid smoking in the presence of children & infants.

Don’t allow others to smoke in your home or vehicle.

Take the smoke outside.

Want to quit –U Can Now!

Talk to your health care provider.

Contact your local American Cancer Society, American Lung or Heart Associations.

Call the Florida Quit-For-Life Linetoll free at  


1-877-U Can Now or1-877-822-6669.


References:

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) & Prevention
The Health Consequences of Smoking.  A Surgeon Report 2004.
www.cdc.gov/tobacco
The American Lung Association
www.lunguse.org
The American Cancer Society
www.cancer.org
Action on Smoking and Health (ASH)
http://no-smoking.org/july02/07-30-02-3