Secondhand smoke kills 49,000 Americans every year and is responsible for 3,000 lung cancer deaths of U.S. non-smokers annually.
The latest Surgeon General’s Report on Tobacco Smoke says secondhand smoke is lethal for everyone. According to this report exposure to tobacco smoke causes immediate damage to your body and can trigger a deadly heart or asthma attack, or damage your DNA which can lead to cancer.
Secondhand Smoke Does Damage To Your Family
A recent study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology proved even 30 minutes of exposure to average levels of secondhand smoke is enough to injure blood vessels in young, healthy non-smokers. In addition, secondhand smoke hinders the body’s natural ability to repair the injured blood vessels. The chemicals in secondhand smoke have strong and persistent consequences on the body’s vascular system.
Consider These Facts
- Each year in the United States, an estimated 49,000 deaths are attributable to secondhand smoke breathed by nonsmokers, making it the third leading cause of preventable death.
- In Indiana alone secondhand smoke kills 1,100 Hoosiers every year and is responsible for over 900 low birth weight babies born each year.
- Infants and children who are exposed to secondhand smoke in their home have dramatically higher levels of respiratory tract infections and slower lung development.
- Many families and children remain at high risk for tobacco use and suffer disproportionately from tobacco-related illness and death.
There is no safe level of smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke.
If you smoke, and want to quit, please call 1-800-QUIT-NOW.
