Q: My family has expressed their concern over my smoking habit saying that it is not only hurting me but hurting them as well. Can secondhand smoke seriously affect my family?
A: Yes, this is a serious health concern for both you and your family. When people "light up" near others, they are not only risking their own health. By breathing secondhand smoke - a combination of direct cigarette smoke and smoke exhaled by the smoker - your family is inhaling the same hazardous chemicals as you.
Q: What are the dangers of secondhand smoke?
A: Secondhand smoke may seem less dangerous compared to firsthand smoke; however, there are many risks associated with secondhand smoke. Below are a few facts regarding some of the dangers of breathing secondhand smoke:
• It contains more than 50 chemicals known to cause cancer.
• Nonsmokers who breathe it increase their risk of many serious diseases, such as heart disease and lung cancer.
• According to the US Surgeon General, there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke.
Inhaling secondhand smoke can immediately disrupt the normal function of your heart, blood and vascular system as well as increase your family's risk of heart attacks. According to the Surgeon General, simply being an occupant in a smoke-filled room can cause a person's blood platelets to become stickier, damaging the lining of blood vessels.
Secondhand smoke is a known cause of low birth weight in babies and sudden infant death syndrome or SIDS. More than 11,600 Wisconsin births are affected by smoking during pregnancy. In 2000, the Wisconsin Women's Health Foundation established First Breath - a program that helps pregnant women quit smoking. You can call them for help at (800) 448-5148 or find more information at wwhf.org.
Babies and children are often most vulnerable to the dangers of secondhand smoke. As they go through major developmental stages, children can develop lung problems, ear infections and severe asthmatic symptoms that are often triggered by environmental smoke. Asthmatic children who live in an environment where secondhand smoke is present often experience more frequent flare-ups, are more likely to miss school because of asthma, take more asthma medicine and have increased difficulty controlling their asthma even with medication.
Benefits of Going Smoke-Free:
If you make the decision to maintain a smoke-free household, you will not only be doing yourself a favor, but also your family, guests and even pets. You can also decrease the risks of secondhand smoke exposure by not allowing others - including guests and relatives - to smoke in your car or home.
As a role model, the very best thing you can do for your family's health is to set an example by quitting smoking. You are one of the most influential people in your children's lives. Even if you do not quit at this time, make it a point to talk to your kids about the dangers of smoking and express your disapproval. Research has indicated that parental disapproval can still influence their children's decision to not smoke even if the parent is a smoker.
For further help or support in quitting smoking, talk to your healthcare provider or call the Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line at (800) 784-8669 for free phone counseling and resources.
Monroe Clinic's Smoking Cessation programs offer classes developed to assist individuals who are trying to quit smoking. Informational sessions are held for 30 minutes every Wednesday morning at 8:00 a.m. to discuss reasons for quitting, a target quit date, information on medications or aids and many other support materials. American Lung Association Freedom from Smoking Classes is the newest addition to the program. If you have any questions regarding Monroe Clinic's Smoking Cessation programs, call (608) 324-2166.
- CJ Smith is a family practice physician with Monroe Clinic who provides full service health care to all members of the family, ranging from newborns to geriatrics. For patients who have experienced musculoskeletal injuries, he can provide prolotherapy, an injection therapy.
A: Yes, this is a serious health concern for both you and your family. When people "light up" near others, they are not only risking their own health. By breathing secondhand smoke - a combination of direct cigarette smoke and smoke exhaled by the smoker - your family is inhaling the same hazardous chemicals as you.
Q: What are the dangers of secondhand smoke?
A: Secondhand smoke may seem less dangerous compared to firsthand smoke; however, there are many risks associated with secondhand smoke. Below are a few facts regarding some of the dangers of breathing secondhand smoke:
• It contains more than 50 chemicals known to cause cancer.
• Nonsmokers who breathe it increase their risk of many serious diseases, such as heart disease and lung cancer.
• According to the US Surgeon General, there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke.
Inhaling secondhand smoke can immediately disrupt the normal function of your heart, blood and vascular system as well as increase your family's risk of heart attacks. According to the Surgeon General, simply being an occupant in a smoke-filled room can cause a person's blood platelets to become stickier, damaging the lining of blood vessels.
Secondhand smoke is a known cause of low birth weight in babies and sudden infant death syndrome or SIDS. More than 11,600 Wisconsin births are affected by smoking during pregnancy. In 2000, the Wisconsin Women's Health Foundation established First Breath - a program that helps pregnant women quit smoking. You can call them for help at (800) 448-5148 or find more information at wwhf.org.
Babies and children are often most vulnerable to the dangers of secondhand smoke. As they go through major developmental stages, children can develop lung problems, ear infections and severe asthmatic symptoms that are often triggered by environmental smoke. Asthmatic children who live in an environment where secondhand smoke is present often experience more frequent flare-ups, are more likely to miss school because of asthma, take more asthma medicine and have increased difficulty controlling their asthma even with medication.
Benefits of Going Smoke-Free:
If you make the decision to maintain a smoke-free household, you will not only be doing yourself a favor, but also your family, guests and even pets. You can also decrease the risks of secondhand smoke exposure by not allowing others - including guests and relatives - to smoke in your car or home.
As a role model, the very best thing you can do for your family's health is to set an example by quitting smoking. You are one of the most influential people in your children's lives. Even if you do not quit at this time, make it a point to talk to your kids about the dangers of smoking and express your disapproval. Research has indicated that parental disapproval can still influence their children's decision to not smoke even if the parent is a smoker.
For further help or support in quitting smoking, talk to your healthcare provider or call the Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line at (800) 784-8669 for free phone counseling and resources.
Monroe Clinic's Smoking Cessation programs offer classes developed to assist individuals who are trying to quit smoking. Informational sessions are held for 30 minutes every Wednesday morning at 8:00 a.m. to discuss reasons for quitting, a target quit date, information on medications or aids and many other support materials. American Lung Association Freedom from Smoking Classes is the newest addition to the program. If you have any questions regarding Monroe Clinic's Smoking Cessation programs, call (608) 324-2166.
- CJ Smith is a family practice physician with Monroe Clinic who provides full service health care to all members of the family, ranging from newborns to geriatrics. For patients who have experienced musculoskeletal injuries, he can provide prolotherapy, an injection therapy.
