The Dangers of Second Hand Smoke ... & Melons!

Secondhand smoke is a burning health issue, thanks to two new major studies. Find out how to protect yourself and your family from this insidious killer...

Everyone knows smoking is dangerous – 1 in 10 deaths worldwide is from a smoking-related disease, according to the World Health Organization.

But exposure to tobacco fumes kills 600,000 nonsmokers a year worldwide, including 165,000 children, according to a December 2010 WHO study. That’s about 1 out of every 100 deaths worldwide, through smoke-related illnesses such as heart disease, lower respiratory infections, asthma and lung cancer.

And the fumes are harder to avoid than you think: They can seep through apartment ventilation systems and cling to baby car seats, where they’re easily ingested.

The U.S. Surgeon General’s office issued its own smoking report in December, reinforcing the dangers of “passive,” or secondhand, exposure.

“Chemicals in tobacco smoke reach lungs quickly every time you inhale, causing damage immediately,” said U.S. Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin, M.D.

“Inhaling even the smallest amount can also damage DNA, which can lead to cancer.”

About 3,400 lung cancer deaths a year are attributable to secondhand smoke, the report estimates.

Read on to learn more about secondhand smoking risks and how to limit exposure:

Why Other People’s Smoke Can Harm You
Tobacco smoke contains 7,000 chemicals, including hundreds that are toxic and at least 70 known to cause cancer, according to the Surgeon General’s report.

Passive exposure also causes heart attacks, says cardiologist Matthew Sorrentino, M.D., FAAC, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Chicago.

“The toxins in cigarette smoke enter the body and damage the coronary arteries that bring blood to the heart,” he says. “Cholesterol builds up on the arteries, and they become blocked, which can lead to a heart attack.”

Okay ... The picture has nothing to do with second hand smoke, I just thought it was funny. :)
Have a great, smoke-free week .... FJW

PS: Amost Forgot ....
600 Smoke Free Days for me!!!!