Dangers of Smoking and Second Hand Smoke

Dangers of Smoking

Dangers of Smoking
Smoking has been around since 5000 BC. Scientist discovered lung cancer is linked with smoking, but it was not until 1980’s when scientific data began to pile up; the world spoke about the dangers of tobacco.
The British Columbia government has allowed a smoking ban overturned from a court’s decision, for the workplace, yet continues in a lawsuit against tobacco companies claiming the companies did not give warning to the public of the dangers involved with smoking. The purpose of the lawsuit is recovering costs from health care related illness from smoking. Health care issues related to secondhand smoke from the workplace, restaurants, and clubs were smoke free from the tobacco ban instituted by the worker’s compensation board. Timothy Schafer wrote “Although the government should still pursue a course of action against the tobacco companies and hold them accountable for their product, they should show that they are legitimately concerned with people 's health, and not just the cost to the health care system, by bringing back the smoking ban.” Health care problems from smoking such as heart attacks, cancers, and lung diseases can decrease from smoking cessations. Smoking is a serious public health care issue and should be treated as a chronic disease.
In an article Therapies for smoking cessation in primary care; Ayşen Fenercioğlu and İsmet Tamer wrote “Smoking is the most preventable cause of death in the world in current medical practice.” The public dealing with secondhand smoke absorbs the dangerous chemicals and nicotine just as the smoker does. The environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is a name for secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke known as “sidestream smoke” is smoke from the end of a cigar, pipe, or cigarette; this can be even more dangerous than smoking, and “mainstream smoke” is smoke exhaled from a smoker’s lungs. “When doctors refer to secondhand smoke, they are mostly describing side-stream; when a smoker lights up a cigarette, roughly 80 percent of the smoke burns off into the room and only 20 percent is inhaled. Side-stream smoke, then, is more dangerous than mainstream smoke” Alex Nechas (n.d.).Second-hand smoke may cause the same health related issues as smokers. The public that is at most risk for second-hand smoke would be the bartenders or restaurants service workers. There are many private organizations in my home town such as the American Legions, VFW’s, AMVETS, and Fraternal Order of Eagles still have smoking in their facilities. These organizations still serve food, and families are welcome with their children. When sections are divided for smoking, and non-smoking; workers are still exposed to harmful chemicals with health related issues.
The center for disease control and prevention offers many cessation programs to help with the addiction of smoking and tobacco use. Anyone interested in resources for help can use the following link http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/stateandcommunity/index.htm. This link will offer many sites available from state and community resources, tobacco control, and youth tobacco preventions. There are many resources available for addiction to tobacco, but one must be willing to follow the steps getting started, and prepare them mentally with a support line.

References
Alex Nechas. Discover Health Secondhand Smoke Basics. Retrieved from: http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/drugs-alcohol/understanding-secondhand-smoke- ga.htm
Ayşen Fenercioğlu and İsmet Tamer. Therapies for smoking cessation in primary care. Retrieved from: http://phoenix.summon.serialssolutions.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/search?s.q=smoking+he alth+care+issues
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Smoking and Tobacco Use. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/stateandcommunity/best_practices/index.htm
Random History A History of Smoking from Ritual to Cigarette. Retrieved from: http://www.randomhistory.com/2009/01/31_tobacco.html
Schafer, Timothy. Daily News [Prince Rupert, B.C] 27 Mar 2000. Retrieved from: http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/docview/357906757

References: Alex Nechas. Discover Health Secondhand Smoke Basics. Retrieved from: http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/drugs-alcohol/understanding-secondhand-smoke- ga.htm Ayşen Fenercioğlu and İsmet Tamer. Therapies for smoking cessation in primary care. Retrieved from: http://phoenix.summon.serialssolutions.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/search?s.q=smoking+he alth+care+issues Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Smoking and Tobacco Use. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/stateandcommunity/best_practices/index.htm Random History A History of Smoking from Ritual to Cigarette. Retrieved from: http://www.randomhistory.com/2009/01/31_tobacco.html Schafer, Timothy. Daily News [Prince Rupert, B.C] 27 Mar 2000. Retrieved from: http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/docview/357906757