By now, you may already know how harmful smoking is to your health, but did you know that secondhand smoke can be equally, or even in some cases, more hazardous than smoking?

It’s true! Secondhand smoke is harmful to anyone who is exposed to it, including children, pregnant mothers, adults and even pets. That’s because secondhand smoke has been identified to contain more than 4,000 chemicals, 50 of which are known to cause cancer.

Secondhand smoke is the combination of burning smoke from the end of a cigarette, pipe or cigar, and the smoke the smoker exhales. Exposure to secondhand smoke may increase the risk of developing various cancers such as lung, sinus and breast cancer. Other health problems and side effects associated with secondhand smoke include heart disease, respiratory illnesses, and eye and nose irritation.

Children and infants in particular are most vulnerable to secondhand smoke due to their inability to avoid their exposure to it. Children who breathe secondhand smoke are more likely to develop many health problems, such as asthma, ear infections, colds and nose, throat, and lung illnesses. Additionally, secondhand smoke causes children to get sick more frequently, take longer to recover, and increase their risk of developing heart disease and cancer when they reach adulthood. Lastly, babies born from mothers who have been exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to have a low birth weight or suffer from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, also referred to as crib death.

In addition to the health problems associated with secondhand smoke in adults and children, pets are also at risk in developing similar health conditions. Pets such as dogs and cats have twice the risk of developing cancer if they are exposed to secondhand smoke or if their owner smokes. In birds, it’s suggested that secondhand smoke could cause serious lung problems such as cancer. Aquatic pets such as fish are also affected by secondhand smoke. Harmful chemicals, such as ammonia and nicotine, which are found in the smoke, may trickle down into the fish tank, resulting in a toxic environment.

The truth is, secondhand smoke exposure is harmful to everyone — adults, children, and pets. That is why, as a preventive measure, it is recommended to avoid secondhand smoke.

For information or help quitting, call the California Smokers’ Helpline, 1 (800) NO-BUTTS.

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Jairo Hernandez is the prevention program specialist for Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance. The opinions of columnists are not necessarily those of the Register-Pajaronian.

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