Dangers Revolving a Non-Smoker

The percentage of a non-smoker getting cancer is much greater than a smoker. Here the non smokers are classified as second hand smokers or passive smokers. In scientific terms, the smoke exhaled by a smoker is known as "main stream" smoke and the smoke inhaled by the non smoker is "side stream" smoke. The formation of these components make up environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). Environmental tobacco smoke is also known as second hand smoke. This is why there is so much emphasis on banning smoking in public places so that adults who are non smokers and children will not be exposed to second hand smoke.

Second hand smoke is actually more dangerous than smoking. Most people think that smoking is detrimental to health, however they fail to understand that the contents exhaled by a smoker has more toxic agents than that of a cigarette. Children are more susceptible to getting sick if exposed to second hand smoke. This is because they have a weaker immune system. There are a large number of them with acute respiratory disease syndrome and asthma.

There is evidence that the number of people who are non smokers have a higher incidence of getting lung cancer. This is because the health ministries have classified second hand smoke as the main group of a carcinogenic substance. The other types of cancers associated with second hand smoking are laryngeal cancer, nasal cavity cancer and cervical cancer.

Furthermore, adults can easily get heart diseases from second hand smoke. The most common is hardening of the carotid arteries which supply blood to the brain. The consequence of this is the person can get a stroke if there is lack of blood flow to the brain. Other than this, the platelets, one of the blood components becomes sticky and clotted. Once clotted, they will dislodge along the arterial wall and cause the diameter of the walls to become thinner.

Smoking cessation should be implemented in most places in order to reduce the hazardous effects of second hand smoking. The authorities should be vigilant and penalise the people who are caught smoking in no smoking places. Banners and words will not help in this situation. Once smokers have a fewer places to smoke, this in turn will reduce the percentage of environmental tobacco smoke.