We thought it wasn’t our business?
Why smokers did their thing, non-smokers went around their business around the smokers, inhaled the smoke but it was not their business; they were wrong! Little do know that those who inhale the smoke by the side are no less smokers than direct smokers.
Until the last two decades, it was commonplace in Europe and the rest of the developed world to enter a smoke- filled pub. While the publicans made brisk business, tobacco smoke was also causing brisk damage to the lungs and hearts of many unsuspecting members of the public.
This might shock you, but it's true — secondhand smoke is more dangerous than the direct smoke inhaled by the smoker. Contrary to the common-sense belief that the smoker inhales direct smoke assumed to be more dangerous, while the second hand smoker gets a diluted version of the smoke. The fact is that we were wrong—sidestream smoke is not a diluted version of the mainstream smoke from direct smoking. It is an entirely differently constituted smoke, which is more dangerous than what the smoker inhales directly!
Four times—yes, sidestream smoke is 4 times more toxic than directly inhaled mainstream smoke. Exposure to secondhand smoke to a second-hand smoker increases your risk of lung cancer. You can expect to suffer similar consequences if you work in an environment with many smokers.
Further, secondhand smoking is associated with higher risks of heart problems, including heart attacks, high blood pressure, strokes, and sudden death. This risk is much higher if you live with a smoking spouse or inhale secondhand smoke frequently.
Children living in a home where parents work have more severe forms of asthma and the risk of asthma increases in a child whose parents smoke, especially if the parent happens to be the mother.
Also, the outcome for early childhood asthma is worse for a child living in a home where people smoke. Children exposed to second-hand smoking also have a greater risk of becoming smokers later in life, and babies born to a smoking mother have a higher risk of breathing problems, heart conditions, and premature birth.
For those who want to live long, it is important to know the smoking policy where you intend to work. If you work in a company or firm where smoking is permitted, your risk of heart disease and lung cancer climb significantly. This means that while we all know that smokers want us to think that smoking is their business but they are not right, it is also our business and smoking should be banned in all public places where this habit is still permitted.
Take-home message: We know that smokers are liable to die young. Unfortunately, those who work and live around smokers are also liable to die young or younger than direct smokers!!
