A lot of the world
population undergoes it. No one is spared. Right from Gauri Khan, SRK’s
wife, to the local professor's wife. Some by choice, others willingly.
Even you and I, mostly unwillingly, undergo it. Maybe at the bus stop,
in public places or worse - with your friends and co-workers.
Smoking is bad, but
passive smoking is worse than smoking. A passive smoker is at 90% more
risk of suffering from various smoke related ailments than an active
smoker. The Oxford Dictionary defines passive smoking as breathing in
smoke from other people’s cigarettes, cigars or pipe. Thus, one can see
that a passive smoker, though indirectly, inhales a lot of smoke as
compared to a smoker who eventually blows it out.
Smoking is nothing
but inhaling in tobacco smoke. And tobacco smoke has been found to
contain around 50 or more compounds that are carcinogenic (cancer
causing). These compounds include arsenic, DDT, cadmiuim, lead, nickel,
etc. Apart from these it also contains 6 developmental or reproductive
toxicants that include HCN (hydrogen cyanide).
These carcinogens and toxicants are very harmful to the human body as they directly affect the system.
According to the
American Cancer Society, in 2005 alone 3000 non-smoking adults died
from lung cancer, another 46,000 from coronary heart diseases. Apart
from this about 430 newborns died due to sudden infant death syndrome
(SID). All the above ailments viz. lung cancer, coronary heart diseases
and SID syndrome are directly related to passive smoking.
This is not the case only in India but around the world. Though, in India,
the case is exaggerated because of the easy access to cigarettes and no
control over smoking in public places. Moreover, the cigarettes hold a
'Statutory Warning' stating that cigarette smoking is injurious to
health, but this mostly goes unheeded. Also, there is a ban to sell
tobacco and tobacco based products to children below 18 years of age,
but then this too is rejected by local vendors who sell it to anyone
and everyone. Thus, for every individual smoking around, the chances of
inhaling second hand smoke is exaggerated over 5 times.
There is a common
myth that second hand smoking can be controlled by ventilation. But the
fact remains that it can’t be. The only alternative is to stay away
from it. As it is said play it safe, avoid your loved ones from
smoking. This ensures yours as well as their safety and good health.
Some facts:
• 25-30% increase in the heart diseases.
• 2005 - 3000 non-smoking people died from lung cancer.
• 46000 coronary heart diseases.
• 430 newborns sudden infant death syndrome- American cancer society.
• 50+ compounds in tobacco smoke that are carcinogens, 6 developmental & reproductive toxicants (arsenic, DDT, HCN-toxicant, cadmiuim)
• Second hand smoke cannot be controlled by ventilation.
• Bidi is more deadly than regular cigarettes.
Symptoms:
• Irritation of eyes nose throat
• Headaches, dizziness, sickness
• Aggravation of allergies and asthma
• A risk of coronary heart diseases
• Exacerbation attack
• 10-30% increase in risk of lung cancer over long periods.
• Increase in heart diseases and stroke.
• Acute respiratory illness in early childhood.
• Chronic cough and wheezing.
Saving the Tigers from extinction It was a hurriedly organized citizen’s meeting at Guwahati Press Club, where serious concerns were expressed at the increasing trend of poaching and killing of wildlife in various parts of Assam.
The EIP factor - what you should learn from it When we grow older, or get older for the sake of the argument, we tend to start seeing the world only from one side. We tend to believe, no, not believe but know, how things are done. If you are smart, you understand that it shouldn't be that way, you understand this is wrong.
Brad Carson says on 2006-10-27 10:35:02 about Many of your assertions are absurd
Your assertion that "passive smoking is worse than smoking" is absurd. Would you suggest that watching someone get stabbed is more painful than actually being stabbed?
You go on to suggest that somehow passive smokers are able to hold smoke in their lungs indefinitely whereas smokers eventually blow it out. For the small number of passive smokers this might affect, I would suggest that the cause of death is not due to second-hand smoke but rather failure to exhale at all.
I am not a smoker but I applaud India's tolerance of a person's basic right to choose what vices they want to subject themselves to.
Whether we want to admit it or not, even now, in year 2012, there are still big gender biases in some fields of life. While it's generally understandable that men should do more heavy lifting than women and knitting fits a bit better for the women (even though I am aware even here there are many people who want to disagree), art is one of those things where our gender really should not play any significant role at all. And within the past decade things have started to change even on this front and even on the more conservative arenas such as Bukowskis - the top Nordic auction house.
