Approximately 50,000 people die a year due to second hand smoking, with over 3,000 suffering from lung cancer and the majority of others dying of heart disease.
Some people consider second hand smoking more dangerous than inhaling the cigarette fumes yourself. Sometimes you don't even realise that you're second hand smoking if you cannot smell it or see the smoke but if you are surrounded by people smoking then the toxins from the cigarettes will enter your body too. In addition, smoke can linger in rooms for hours afterwards which can still enter your system. If you breathe in the smoke from someone else's cigarette then you are also breathing in the first hand smoke being exhaled from the smoker. This is more dangerous because it intensifies the carcinogens and chemicals.
It is incredibly dangerous for young infants and children to take in the chemicals of second hand smoke because they are more likely to form respiratory tract infections in the future, and if babies are exposed to it then they may develop these problems before they reach 18 months old. Moreover, it is important to note that if you are exposed to two hours of second hand smoke, then it will be the equivalent of smoking four cigarettes yourself. Fortunately, there are laws in the United States and the United Kingdom that ban smoking in public places such as pubs and restaurants. This could mean that the rate of people dying from second hand smoke will decrease.
Some people consider second hand smoking more dangerous than inhaling the cigarette fumes yourself. Sometimes you don't even realise that you're second hand smoking if you cannot smell it or see the smoke but if you are surrounded by people smoking then the toxins from the cigarettes will enter your body too. In addition, smoke can linger in rooms for hours afterwards which can still enter your system. If you breathe in the smoke from someone else's cigarette then you are also breathing in the first hand smoke being exhaled from the smoker. This is more dangerous because it intensifies the carcinogens and chemicals.
It is incredibly dangerous for young infants and children to take in the chemicals of second hand smoke because they are more likely to form respiratory tract infections in the future, and if babies are exposed to it then they may develop these problems before they reach 18 months old. Moreover, it is important to note that if you are exposed to two hours of second hand smoke, then it will be the equivalent of smoking four cigarettes yourself. Fortunately, there are laws in the United States and the United Kingdom that ban smoking in public places such as pubs and restaurants. This could mean that the rate of people dying from second hand smoke will decrease.
