Passive Smoking!?

Question

My husband smokes about 20 a day, although he`s in the process of giving up (again), since being with him and certainly in the last six months I have had no end of chest infections, does anybody think that this could aggravate or be the main reason why I`m getting this condition. I myself have never smoked, drunk or used any other substances.

Answer 1

It could be the cause, patients who have been no more than passive smokers increase their risk of both COPD,chronic bronchitis, heart disease and lung cancer.

Answer 2

Tosh and piffle! Chest infections are caused either by bacteria or a virus. Mainstream and secondhand smoke of any description can irritate the alveoli (air sacs) and bronchii (air tubes) in the lungs which can cause the cilia, moving hairs that clear the lungs of debris, to slow down. The result of this is that mucus stays in the lungs longer than it should, and, if the right bacterium enters the lung, this mucus can form the site of an infection, but the smoke itself is not the causal factor.

The demon in all forms of smoke are Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, which are the natural product of any form of burning. In cooking, for example, the Maillard Reaction, which is what occurs when meat or other food browns, is a direct consequence of these PAHs, and they make your steak taste good. PAHs are formed by burning anything, wood, petrol, coal, paper or tobacco.

Another demon is the Benzine derivatives, which occur in some forms of tobacco and in the burning of petrol. These are inhaled willy-nilly because of the massive use of the internal combustion engine in cars, lorries and the like.

It is, perhaps, significant, that although smoking has been on the decline for the last thirty years (in the UK), cases of asthma, both diagnosed in children and also late-onset in adults, have risen exponentially in the last few years.

I do not make any claims about carcinogens in cigarette smoke. There is enough evidence to point the finger at cigarett smoke being a primary cause of lung cancer. You asked specifically about infections.

From a personal point of view, I had bronchitis two years running, and was advised to give up smoking. I tried very hard, but could not give up cigarettes, so my doctor advised me to change to smoking a pipe. I have since smoked a pipe for 23 years and have not had a single chest infection in that time. I play cricket, lift weights and enjoy an active lifestyle, at my age of fifty. Pipe tobacco is cured diferently to cigarette tobacco, does not have huge amounts of chemicals added to it, and the pipesmoker seldom inhales. Perhaps the midical authorities should research pipesmoking more thoroughly, and suggest this form of smoking to those who cannot, will not or do not wish to stop enjoying the smoking experience.

Answer 3

Passive smoking lowers your immune system just as smoking does, it also can contribute to heart disease and many other illnesses that you can get if you had smoked. This is why there is going to be a ban of smoking in public places, it isn't a scare tactic but a fact. I have never smoked in my life and I have already suffered from bronchitis, severe chest infections and tuberculosis (even though I have had the injection as a child), now I have to have regular chest x-rays just because selfish people have smoked around me and given me no choice but to breathe in the smoke and yes I am bitter about it because I used to do cross-country and have previously ran for my county when I was younger, so yes I am bitter about smokers.

Answer 4

Possibly, maybe you should speak to your doctor? I myself am a non-smoker but I try not to let the passive smoking thing bother me. Nowadays we seem to worry about everything and if I thought about it all too much I'd probably get depressed and that's not healthy either! One minute you should eat this or take that then the next minute it's bad for you? Passive smoke is a problem, so is pollution, so is drink driving, plus many more things. I'm not the type of person to bury my head in the sand but sometimes I just think enough is enough! I do what I can as an individual.

Answer 5

your probably right. i have recently stopped smoking normal cigarettes and switched to rolling tobbaco. My reason for changing was that a friend suggested typing the following into Google " chemicals in cigarettes"
To my horror i found out that there are more than 4000 chemicals produced by normal cigs. very nasty ones too. Some of them are benzene,embalming fluid,toilet cleaner,arsenic and cyanide. Have a look!
Since changing to roll ya own my chest is at least 50% better than it use to be. Still gotta give up totally. Wish i`d never started.

Answer 6

Yes.
Have you seen the new anti smoking adverts? Its at a wedding and just one woman is smoking, it shows the unseen smoke in black, and it gives you different facts, like people who are exposed to 2nd hand smoke are 40% more likely to have a heart problem, even if they have never smoked.
It really makes you think

Answer 7

Yes, it is very possible.

If your husband needs inspiration, try this:

My dad used to smoke like a chimney. There were always large ashtrays piled high with tags from newly-opened packs of cigarettes.

But then they adopted my nephew. Soon after that, my dad had to go into the hospital for appendicitis.

Which, needless to say, meant that he couldn't smoke. He made up his mind that since he couldn't smoke anyway, for my nephew he was going to keep it that way.

He hasn't lit up again since then.

Answer 8

yes second hand smoke can be just as dangerous as smoking yourself. I am an ex smoker and what made me quit was when I found out my 6 yr old has severe asthma and that was making him worse. Second hand smoke can put my kid in the hospital.

Answer 9

yes this amount of second hand smoke can only cause you respritory problems.here in scotland we have a smoking ban in public places and its been incredible the difference it makes when you have a night out.i would politely ask your husband to smoke in a room not frequented by yourself or maybe you could leave the room.do this on a trial basis for say 1 week and see how you feel.

Answer 10

Yes, passive smoking is very dangerous to your health. You are actually smoking along with him.
www.smokingstopshere.com

Answer 11

Sounds like his habit is affecting you too. Make him smoke in the yard or something for a while and see if feel better