Second-hand and Third-hand Smoke!!

Inhalation of smoke from tobacco products used by others is termed as passive smoking and the smoke is known as “second hand smoke (SHS) or environmental tobacco smoke (ETS)”. When a person smokes the nearby individuals also gets affected with the smoke released by cigarette. Second hand smoke is highly dangerous for all especially for children. It may results in certain diseases, disabilities and even death. Most of its effect is long-term causing wide array of negative effects including cardiovascular diseases, lung cancer, respiratory ailments etc.

• Cancer: - Lung cancer, breast cancer, Renal cell carcinoma, brain tumor.
• Circulatory system diseases: - Heart attack, reduced heart rate, etc
• Infections: - ear, nose, throat
• Respiratory problems: - Lung problems, asthma, bronchitis
• Cognitive impairment
• Pregnancy complications: - smoking may results in a number of health complications in pregnant women i.e. low birth rate, premature birth, infant syndrome.
• Increased risk of tuberculosis
• Allergies
• Crohn’s disease
• Learning difficulties, neurobehavioral effects, developmental delays
• Tooth decay

Third hand smoke: - It is the residual tobacco smoke contamination that remains after the cigarette is extinguished and second-hand smoke has cleared from the air. This residue consists of numerous same toxic chemicals that are found in second-hand smoke. Thus the damaging effects of both are almost same.