What effects can passive smoking have on non-smokers?
Passive smokers may have difficulty breathing, as well as headaches, coughing, feeling sick or dizzy, sore throats, and eye irritation. If you have asthma, being exposed to smoke may make your symptoms worse. The smell of smoke on your clothes and hair is less serious, but sometimes more irritating.
Short-term effects Being exposed to second-hand smoke is generally pretty unpleasant – it may give you a headache, cough or sore throat. It can also irritate your eyes and make you feel sick or dizzy. If you have asthma, being exposed to smoke may make your symptoms worse. And of course, although the smell of smoke on your clothes and hair may be less serious, it can actually be more irritating. Long-term effects If you’re regularly exposed to second-hand smoke, your risk of developing smoking-related diseases substantially increases. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that second-hand smoke increases your risk of heart disease or lung cancer by up to a third. Not only that, you’re more likely to develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which causes problems with breathing. Effects on children Around four in 10 of all children in the UK are exposed to tobacco smoke at home. However, the good news is that with the introduction of new smoking laws, this number is
