The Ripple Effect Of Smoking

Understanding the silent threat of second-hand smoke.

- Archana Dhawan

We have all seen a cigarette pack with 'cigarette smoking is injurious to health' warning. For the last few years, the same slogan flashes across on film and television screens, warning us about its harmful effects. We also know that whosoever smokes puts their health at extreme risk.

However, there is another hidden danger that is unforeseen and underestimated. When a person smokes a tobacco product in an enclosed space, they expose nonsmokers to tobacco smoke. Thus, making them into 'passive smokers'. It is this smoke that becomes a cause of concern for the people around. Most often, it is the spouse, children, parents and other family members of smokers. Even maids and other helpers who visit our house for daily work are at risk. It harms nearly every organ of the body. The figures are worrying if we see that there are some 4000 chemicals in tobacco smoke, and at least 250 of them are known to be harmful. More than 50 are known to cause cancer in humans.

Each year, approximately 41,000 deaths among non-smoking adults and 400 infant deaths each year, have occurred due to problems caused by second-hand smoke. Its profound effects are almost immediate and can be witnessed at all strata of the society.

Savitri was in tears when she was diagnosed with a stage III case of lung cancer. She had lost her husband two years back. On taking up her case history, doctors found that the real culprit behind her misery was her husband, a chronic smoker of over 32 years. He had developed coronary heart disease and despite warnings to quit 'bidi', he did not heed to the doctor's advice. It was all over too soon as he suffered a massive heart attack and passed away. Savitri was a clear case of a passive smoker.

Second-hand Smoke