Second-hand smoke is a big problem

Every year, 434,000 people die of illnesses related to their smoking. But smokers are not the only ones whose health can suffer.

Their tobacco smoke in the air is called environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) or secondhand smoke. Breathing it can be a hazard to your health and the health of your children.

Secondhand smoke contains smaller amounts of the same chemicals that harm smokers. ETS is so harmful that the EPA has classified it as a “Group A” carcinogen. “Group A” carcinogens are the most toxic substances known to cause cancer in humans, also including benzene, radon, and asbestos.

The more often you’re around secondhand smoke, the greater your risk for health problems. Each year it causes about 3,000 lung cancer deaths in U.S. adults who don’t smoke. Secondhand smoke increases the nonsmoker’s risk for heart disease and makes worse the symptoms of adults already suffering from asthma, allergies, or bronchitis.

Child-ren are usually innocent victims, unable to choose whether or not to be in a smoke-filled environment. Among infants to 18 months of age, secondhand smoke is associated with as many as 300,000 cases of bronchitis and pneumonia each year. It also increases the chances for middle ear problems, causes coughing and wheezing, and worsens asthma conditions.

Facts like these show that other people’s smoke is more than an annoyance. Secondhand smoke is a serious threat to your good health.  Here are some ways you can protect the health of you and your family:

• Do not allow anyone to smoke near your child.

• Do not smoke or allow others to smoke in your home or car.

• Use a smoke-free daycare center.

• Choose restaurants and bars that are smoke-free.

 Bonner General Hospital now offers tobacco-cessation classes.  If you or someone you know needs help quitting cigarettes or other tobacco products, please consider attending one of these physician-directed classes. For more information, please visit the hospital website at www.BonnerGeneral.org or call 265-2254.

n  Lynda Metz is the Director of Community Development at Bonner General Hospital.  The information in this article is courtesy of the National Cancer Institute.  For more information about the hospital’s tobacco-cessation classes, please visit www.BonnerGeneral.org.