Editorial: Secondhand Smoke, A New Epidemic by Angelin

Is smoking a cigarette more harmful than inhaling secondhand smoke? The answer is that they both are equally dangerous no matter how you look at the situation. Secondhand smoke is estimated to cause 42,000 deaths each year. What is secondhand smoke? It is the inhaling of smoke involuntarily from tobacco being smoked by others. In other terms, it can also be known as environmental tobacco smoke that comes from the smoker itself, or the end of the ash.

According to the CDC, smoke that is inhaled is drawn into the windpipe, through the bronchi, to the lungs, and then enters the arteries. This means that when you inhale smoke it stays in your body causing damages to the lungs and health problems such as strokes, lung cancer, and breast cancer. From 1964 until now, it has been estimated that 2.5 million nonsmokers have died because of secondhand smoke.

More importantly, secondhand smoke is one of the leading causes of asthmatic problems in children.. This is a major issue, for a child who is being exposed smoke. Not only that,  according to The American Lung Association, in the United States, 37% of the children who live here are living in homes that are fuming with puffs from the cigarettes. Upon discovering this statistic, I strongly disapprove the parents who are smoking around their children. Exposing kids to something that they have no control over, they will gradually turn that obstacle into an essential of life. More importantly, they will begin an early stage of health issues. Another problem are the chemicals from the secondhand smoke that are dangerous to school grounds. Mayoclinic.org has given statistics that children being exposed to the smoke will likely have cancer or other serious health conditions.

Also, from the American Lung Association, in 2009, secondhand smoke has been the leading cause of heart attacks. About 20-30% of nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke increase their chances in heart disease. Furthermore, the Smoking Cessation Health Center has stated that the smoke makes the blood thicker, damaging the blood vessels. With the multiple clogs in the vessels it becomes harder for the blood to circulate throughout your body. With the raptures occurring, it can also cause coronary artery disease. Over 400,000 people will have coronary artery disease from the exposure of secondhand smoke.

Considering these facts, secondhand smoke should be considered when creating policies about smoking in outdoor non recreational areas. Chances are, many have already been exposed to this environment. Allowing others to know more about the cause and health risks of secondhand smoke will allow others to be more cautious to their surroundings and potentially to themselves.  Another way to make secondhand smoking more aware for the people is going out to the public with signs about the health concerns of it. Also, writing a proposition to ban tobacco from public outdoors, like shopping centers and outdoor dining patios will benefit those who have not yet been exposed to smoke be relieved because they are living in a safe environment. In others words, with the people educated about the health risks of secondhand smoke, and pushing for more policies for this new movement, we can form a better view of society by saving more lives rather than letting them disappear like ash.