You know how smoking damages your health. You may be less sure about how much it can affect those around you. Here are some sobering facts:

  • Passive smoking is now considered to be the third most common preventable cause of death in the USA.
  • Cancer. Passive smoking increases the risk of developing some 12+ forms of cancer, with lung cancer high on the list.
  • Heart disease & stroke. Increased risk of each.
  • Dementia and impaired cognitive function. For those over 50, passive smoking is associated with a decline in mental functioning.
  • Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of low-birth-weight as well as premature delivery
  • Children of smokers, exposed to passive smoking, have an increased risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), asthma, lung infections like bronchitis, allergies, tooth decay, ear infections, and learning problems

While all, or nearly all, of these effects are related to the amount of exposure (how much and how often), they are all real proven risks. Makes you think doesn’t it?