Exposure to secondhand smoke even for a brief period of time can be fatal
On this World No Tobacco Day, awareness needs to be raised on the importance of creating a 100% smoke-free environment
New Delhi, May 29, 2016: According to the recently released Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS-India 2010), 52.3% of the Indian population is exposed to secondhand smoke at home, 29.9% at workplace and 29% at public places. Tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, including hundreds that are toxic and about 70 that can cause cancer. Exposure to second-hand smoke is considered to be almost as harmful as smoking itself. Owing to the serious health implications tobacco has on both smokers as well as those around them, there is an urgent need to raise public awareness as well as ensure enforcement of existing laws and regulations.
Second-hand smoke is the smoke that fills restaurants, homes, offices or other enclosed spaces when people burn tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, ‘bidis’ and water pipes and is a well-recognized health hazard. It is a mixture of mainstream smoke(smoke exhaled by a smoker) and sidestream smoke(smoke emitted from burning cigarettes, cigars or pipes). There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke. So all forms of tobacco are deadly and cause diseases and disabilities.It is estimated that over 1 lakh people in India might be dying every year from breathing second-hand tobacco smoke.
Speaking on the occasion of the upcoming World No Tobacco Day,Dr. Manoj Kumar, Associate Director & Head – Cardiac Cath Lab, Max Balaji Super Specialty Hospital, Patparganj said, “According to WHO, tobacco products are responsible for to nearly 6 million deaths each year worldwide, out of which 6,00,000 deaths occur as a result of nonsmokers being exposed to secondhand smoke. Tobacco smoke has a hazardous impact on one’s health. Once inhaled, it makes your blood stickier, raises LDL cholesterol, and damages the lining of your blood vessels.Non-smokers are at highest risk when they live and work around those who smoke regularly or often visit public areas that are frequented by a large number of smokers. The duration of exposure to tobacco smoke determines the extent of harm caused to the body. Exposure for even 5 minutes is enough to stiffen the aorta; exposure for 20-30 minutes causes excess blood clotting and gradually leads to atherosclerosis, a condition that increases a person’s risk of heart attacks and strokes. Exposure for more than 2 hours can trigger arrhythmias and heart attacks in high-risk patients. On World No Tobacco Day,as members of the medical fraternity, we should pledge to educate our patients about the dangers of tobacco use and exposure to second-hand smoke and help them quit this deadly habit.”
Dr. Santosh Kumar Agarwal, Senior Interventional Cardiologist, Kailash Hospital and Heart Institute, Noida said “When non-smokers are exposed to secondhand smoke it is called passive or involuntary smoking. Non-smokers who breathe in second hand smoke breathe in nicotine and toxic chemicals in the same amounts as smokers do.Tobacco smoke contains thousands of toxins and chemicals, which are extremely harmful for one’s body. Nicotine present in tobacco is addictive and stimulates the body to produce adrenaline, which temporally increases a person’s blood pressure and heart rate upon consumption. Research indicates that smoke either inhaled directly or passively increases heart rate, tightens heart vessels and can cause irregular heart rhythm, all of which makes our heart work harder and more prone to sudden heart attacks. It also raises blood pressure which increases the risk of stroke, angina and heart attack. The toxic chemicals lead to the buildup of fatty plaque in the arteries (atherosclerosis), injure the vessel walls causing rupture of fatty plaque, affect cholesterol levels and increase the risk of blood clotting leading ultimately to heart attack. On this World No Tobacco Day it is important to raise awareness about the fact that there are no safe levels of exposure to second-hand smoke and the system of designated smoking zones does not entirely protect a person from exposure to tobacco smoke. A 100% smoke-free environment is the only solution.”
In India, as per the law, smoke free public spaces cover health and educational facilities, public transport, government facilities and workplaces. However, designated smoking rooms in offices and restaurants not only create intense smoking environments but also are also often attached to smoke free spaces. The enforcement of smoke free public spaces is also often weak.
Second-hand or passive smoking is a serious public health problem and needs to be tackled. All stakeholders including the medical fraternity, policy makers and public should work together towards the cause. Smokers need to be educated about the harmful effects of smoking to them and their loved ones and assistance should be provided to help them quit. Research shows that smokers who quit between ages of 35 and 39 can add an average of 6 to 9 years to their lives. Quitting smoking immediately reduces the risk of lung and throat cancer, asthma, COPD, cataracts and gum diseases as well as cardiovascular diseases.
