Who Does Secondhand Smoke Affect?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Secondhand smoke causes numerous health problems in

infants and children

, including more frequent and severe asthma attacks, respiratory infections, ear infections, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Who is most affected by smoking?

  • Military Veterans. …
  • Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual Adults (LGB) …
  • Adults that Did Not Graduate High School. …
  • Americans Making Less Than $20,000 a Year. …
  • Uninsured Americans. …
  • American Indians/Alaskan Natives. …
  • Adults in Public Housing.

Who is most affected by secondhand smoke?


Children

still have a higher prevalence of secondhand smoke exposure than adults, and most are exposed in the home. In 2019, an estimated 6.7 million (25.3%) of middle and high school students reported secondhand smoke exposure in the home.

What percent of people are affected by secondhand smoke?

Nearly

25 percent (24.2 percent)

are exposed to secondhand aerosol smoke from e-cigarettes. While less toxic than smoke from cigarettes, e-cigarettes emit many potentially toxic substances and research is still being gathered on the harmfulness of exposure.

Which is more dangerous first hand or second hand smoke?


Firsthand smoking

and secondhand smoke both cause serious health effects. While directly smoking is worse, the two have similar adverse health effects. Secondhand smoke is also called: side-stream smoke.

Can your lungs heal from secondhand smoke?


There is no treatment for breathing in secondhand smoke

. But there are ways to manage your exposure and treat conditions related to secondhand smoke inhalation. If you are regularly near secondhand smoke, you can reduce the danger by: Moving away from the smoker and finding a smoke-free place.

Can secondhand smoke make you sick?

When you are around a person who is smoking, you inhale the same dangerous chemicals as he or she does.

Breathing secondhand smoke can make you sick

. Some of the diseases that secondhand smoke causes can kill you. Protect yourself: do not breathe secondhand smoke.

Why do poor people smoke?

More people are smoking in

poorer

communities. It is easy to blame people in poverty for making bad choices. … Tobacco companies target these communities to encourage the habit, and the stresses of living in poverty and sometimes hopelessness also cause people to turn to cigarettes.

How many died because of smoking?

Cigarette smoking is responsible for

more than 480,000 deaths per year

in the United States, including more than 41,000 deaths resulting from secondhand smoke exposure. This is about one in five deaths annually, or 1,300 deaths every day. On average, smokers die 10 years earlier than nonsmokers.

What country smokes the most?


Kiribati

has the highest smoking rates in the world at 52.40%. As with many other countries, smoking is lower among women than it is among men. More than 200 people die in Kiribati each year from tobacco-related causes.

Has anyone ever died from secondhand smoke?

Secondhand Smoke and Death

Exposure to secondhand smoke causes an estimated

41,000

deaths each year among adults in the United States: Secondhand smoke causes 7,333 annual deaths from lung cancer.

What are the long term effects of secondhand smoke?

  • coronary heart disease (risk increased by 25-30%)
  • lung cancer (risk increased by 20-30%) and other cancers.
  • stroke (risk increased by 20-30%)
  • increased risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other breathing problems.

Is 3rd hand smoke?

Thirdhand smoke is

residual nicotine and other chemicals left on indoor surfaces by

tobacco smoke. People are exposed to these chemicals by touching contaminated surfaces or breathing in the off-gassing from these surfaces.

How do you live with a smoker in the house?

  1. Find a good air purifier. An air purifier is one of the fastest and best ways to keep indoor air fresh when you’re living with a smoker. …
  2. Use natural ventilation. …
  3. Go for indoor plants. …
  4. Recycling the air. …
  5. Activated & Bamboo Charcoal.

How can you protect yourself from secondhand smoke?

The Surgeon General has concluded that the only way to fully protect yourself and your loved ones from the dangers of secondhand smoke is

through 100% smoke-free environments

. Opening a window, sitting in a separate area, or using ventilation, air conditioning, or a fan cannot eliminate secondhand smoke exposure.

Why secondhand smoking is bad?

Second-hand smoke is a

serious health threat

: For every 8 smokers who die from a smoking-related disease, 1 non-smoker dies from second-hand smoke exposure. Non-smokers who live with a smoker have a 25% to 30% greater risk of developing heart disease.

Sophia Kim
Author
Sophia Kim
Sophia Kim is a food writer with a passion for cooking and entertaining. She has worked in various restaurants and catering companies, and has written for several food publications. Sophia's expertise in cooking and entertaining will help you create memorable meals and events.