Secondhand Smoke

Smoking has proven to be a dangerous habit. It can cause long-term health problems for anyone who has a history of smoking. But over the past several decades, the number of Americans who smoke has steadily decreased. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) puts the number of smokers in the U.S. now around 14 percent.

Unfortunately, even if you’ve never smoked a cigarette in your life, you can still end up develop health issues from it. That’s because secondhand smoke is dangerous and unhealthy, too.

What is Secondhand Smoke?

Secondhand smoke is any smoke you inhale from tobacco that is being smoked by someone around you. And it has two different sources – the smoke being exhaled by the smoker and the smoke coming from the lighted end of whatever they’re smoking.

The CDC says secondhand smoke contains more than 7 thousand chemicals, hundreds of them are toxic and around 70 of them are known to cause cancer. And there’s really no level of safe or risk-free exposure. It’s estimated that at least 58 million Americans every year are exposed to secondhand smoke at home, at work and in public.

How Does Secondhand Smoke Harm My Health?

Secondhand smoke can cause so many health issues. It’s actually the third-leading cause of preventable death in America and is blamed for more than 50 thousand deaths each year.

It doesn’t take long to have a negative impact on your body. Within minutes, secondhand smoke can cause your blood vessels to constrict. Long-term exposure can eventually lead to heart disease, lung cancer or stroke in adults who have never smoked. In children, secondhand smoke can hinder lung development. It can also cause chronic ear infections, coughing, shortness of breath and respiratory infections like bronchitis and pneumonia. It can also increase a child’s risk for more frequent and severe asthma attacks.

How Can I Reduce My Exposure to Secondhand Smoke?

It’s obviously important to reduce your exposure to secondhand smoke as much as you possibly can. The best and most effective way is to stay away from anyone who smokes and from places that allow it. But that can be difficult. Especially if you live with a smoker, work in a bar or restaurant that still allows it or live in an apartment or a condo and have a neighbor who smokes.

It can be tough, but if you have a loved one who smokes or live with someone who does, your first step should be to offer support and encouragement in an effort to get them to quit. It will greatly benefit everyone in your family. But if they aren’t ready to take that step, try to set up some parameters to at least reduce the risk of exposure for yourself and other non-smokers in the home.

It can be a difficult conversation, but it’s important to respectfully ask them not to smoke in the house – and go outside instead. Also, ask them not to smoke in the car – in exchange be willing to make stops for smoke breaks for them. When going out, choose restaurants and bars that are smoke-free establishments. And any time you’re in public, avoid walking through or near the smoking area. Even if there’s no one standing there smoking, the smoke may still be lingering in the air.

How Can I Get Rid of Secondhand Smoke in My Home?

If you’ve recently quit smoking or live with someone who has, you’ll want to get rid of the secondhand smoke in your home. Scientists have yet to figure out just how long secondhand smoke lingers in the air, but they know it doesn’t go away immediately. It can also settle into carpet, furniture, walls and other fabrics in your home. So, getting rid of it as best you can is important.

To rid your home of secondhand smoke, the first thing you’ll want to do is deep clean your home. It can take some time, but it will be worth it. You can start by steam cleaning the carpets, curtains and any furniture with fabric upholstery. You’ll also want to wash down the walls, windows and home décor. Secondhand smoke can leave residue behind, so you’ll want to get rid of as much of it as possible. Clean with rags that can easily be tossed when you’re finished.

Regularly changing out the filters in your heating and cooling system is important for the system to run properly. But if you or someone you live with has recently stopped smoking, change them out immediately. It will help ensure the air circulating in your home is cleaner.

You’ll also want to purify the air – for the short and long-term future. Purchasing an air purifier can be a significant investment, but it’s well worth the money. The best ones run with HEPA filters. HEPA stands for high efficiency particulate air and this type of filter is designed to pull out more than 99 percent of the smallest particles and impurities in the air. You may also want to consider one that runs with activated carbon. Activated carbon helps eliminate strong odors in your home, so it will help neutralize any lingering smell of cigarette smoke.

Air purifiers don’t just work well for getting rid of secondhand smoke, they’ll clear the air in your home from all types of impurities and allergy triggers. They’re a simple and effective way to help you and your family breathe easier.

Breathing in secondhand smoke is unhealthy and over time, can cause all kinds of respiratory issues. It can lead to heart disease, stroke and cancer. In 1964, the U.S. Surgeon General released a first of its kind report on secondhand smoke. The EPA says since then, 2.5 million non-smoking adults have died because they breathed in secondhand smoke. So, it’s important to reduce your risk for yourself and those you love.

It can be tough, but if you have a loved one who smokes or live with someone who does, your first step should be to offer support and encouragement in an effort to get them to quit. It will greatly benefit everyone in your family. But if they aren’t ready to take that step, try to set up some parameters to at least reduce the risk of exposure for yourself and other non-smokers in the home.

It can be a difficult conversation, but it’s important to respectfully ask them not to smoke in the house – and go outside instead. Also, ask them not to smoke in the car – in exchange be willing to make stops for smoke breaks for them. When going out, choose restaurants and bars that are smoke-free establishments. And any time you’re in public, avoid walking through or near the smoking area. Even if there’s no one standing there smoking, the smoke may still be lingering in the air.

Sources:

https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/secondhand_smoke/general_facts/index.htm
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/secondhand-smoke/art-20043914
https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/how-long-do-harmful-elements-secondhand-smoke-linger
https://no-smoke.org/secondhand-smoke-science/