Secondhand smoke: What you should know

UK HealthCare Secondhand Smoke brochure (PDF 2.63 MB)

A Kentucky health problem
Most people know that smoking tobacco is very risky for the smoker. But did you know that tobacco smoke is dangerous for nonsmokers, too?

Secondhand smoke comes from the burning end of a cigarette, pipe or cigar. It also comes from smoke exhaled from the smoker. Each year secondhand smoke causes about 46,000 deaths to nonsmokers from heart disease and 3,000 deaths from lung cancer.

Children living in households where adults smoke are at high risk of exposure to secondhand smoke. Parents who smoke provide almost 90 percent of a child’s exposure to secondhand smoke. Children exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to die from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). They also have more health problems such as pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma and ear infections. Children living in households where adults smoke are hospitalized more than children living in smoke-free homes.

Secondhand smoke and pets
Secondhand smoke increases the risk of cancer in cats, dogs and birds. A 2009 study showed that 28 percent of the owners who smoked would be motivated to quit smoking based on the dangers of secondhand smoke to their pets. Nine percent said they would ask others in their household to quit smoking and 14 percent said they would ask visitors to smoke outside.

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• Secondhand smoke health risks >
• Secondhand smoke facts >
• Protecting yourself and others >
• Tobacco-cessation resources >
• UK HealthCare's Tobacco-free policy >
  
  

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Page last updated Monday, November 2, 2009 4:32 PM