It is always possible to stop smoking, regardless of age. Quitting smoking can bring both immediate and long-lasting health improvements for individuals of all ages.
What are the health risks of secondhand smoke?
There is no amount of exposure to tobacco smoke that is considered safe. Second-hand smoke contains the same harmful chemicals as those inhaled by the person smoking, including nicotine. Of the 7,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke, over 70 are known to be carcinogenic. Being exposed to second-hand smoke, even for a brief time, can be harmful to everyone.
Babies and children
Secondhand smoke poses a particular risk to infants and young children, as their lungs are still developing and not as robust as those of adults.
Second-hand smoke can lead to a variety of health issues, such as an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) due to chemicals affecting the brain’s ability to regulate breathing in infants. Other risks include ear infections, acute respiratory infections like pneumonia and bronchitis, asthma, and respiratory symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
Pregnant women and their babies
Smoking tobacco while pregnant poses significant dangers for both the smoker and their baby. It can lead to various complications including low birth weight, stillbirths, reduced fetal growth, premature births, placental abruption, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Pregnant individuals who are exposed to second-hand smoke also face an increased likelihood of childbirth issues.
An unborn baby is especially at risk from exposure to second-hand smoke, as the harmful chemicals can pass through the placenta. This exposure can raise the chances of the baby being born underweight and experiencing delayed development. Additionally, it can elevate the likelihood of the child developing various health issues like leukemia, lymphomas, and brain tumors during their early years.
Adults
Even individuals who have never smoked and are in good health can face health issues if they are exposed to second-hand smoke. Second-hand smoke can elevate their chances of developing heart problems, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, respiratory issues such as asthma, persistent coughing, and infections in the nasal and chest areas.
Each year in Canada, close to 1000 deaths in non-smokers are attributed to lung cancer and heart disease caused by exposure to second-hand smoke. If you are a smoker, it is important to refrain from smoking near others, particularly children, pregnant individuals, and those with respiratory issues.
How to avoid secondhand smoke and reduce health risks?
Improving air quality through cleaning, filtering, increased ventilation, or designated non-smoking areas cannot fully eliminate the risks of being exposed to second-hand smoke and the associated health hazards.
The best way to protect non-smokers is to ban smoking in all enclosed spaces like restaurants, homes (including apartments), workplaces, and vehicles. To prevent second-hand smoke exposure, consider these precautions:
- Quit smoking or help someone quit.
- Avoid places where people smoke: in private homes, at work, in cars, in recreational areas, and near building entrances.
- Make your home and car smoke-free to reduce your own smoking and improve your chances of quitting successfully. If you live in an apartment building, learn how to make your unit smoke-free.
- If you’re not ready to quit, smoke only in areas where others won’t be affected. When smoking outdoors, stay several meters away from doors, vents, and windows. Use a designated container for cigarette ashes and butts.
You have the right not to smoke
There are laws and regulations in place to ensure that you have the right to breathe smoke-free air. These laws exist at various levels of government, including federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal, with the aim of safeguarding your health. They prohibit smoking in a variety of settings, such as federal buildings, workplaces, schools, bars, casinos, restaurants, patios, planes, trains, public ferries, buses (including shelters), public beaches, and city-owned property like parks and playgrounds. To determine which policies are applicable in your area, it is advisable to consult your provincial or territorial Ministry of Health and your local municipal government.
