You save not just your health but also the health of your family when you stop smoking. Smoking presents a threat to more than just your health. HSE claims that only 15% of a cigarette’s smoke is breathed by the smoker; the remaining 85% is either released into the surrounding air or breathed in by other people. This is referred to as secondhand smoke. It is released each time a smoker puffs. 

The smoke from a lit cigarette end and the smoke exhaled by a smoker are both considered forms of secondhand smoke. When someone smokes directly, they are voluntarily breathing in tobacco smoke. Even though the person who is exposed to secondhand smoke did not choose to light up, they still are faced with the negative impacts on their health. Secondhand smoke is even more harmful because it increases a person’s risk of developing heart disease and lung cancer, two conditions that smokers are also more likely to have. 

The Risks Of Secondhand Smoke

Smoking around people can be harmful, especially to young people. The best defense is to quit smoking or make sure your car and house are smoke-free, at the absolute least. The majority of the smoke from cigarettes enters the air around you rather than your lungs, where it can be inhaled by anyone in the area. 

Not only is it uncomfortable for friends and family to inhale secondhand smoke, also known as passive smoking, but it can also be harmful to their health.  Further, kids who stay in a smoke-filled home are more likely to experience allergies, asthma, and respiratory issues which can be fatal to them. Thankfully, there are several actions you can take to protect your family from secondhand smoke. 

The first and most obvious step is to completely give up smoking. At Montgomery Pharmacy, we offer medication management, which includes talking about prescription medications that might help you stop smoking and giving you advice on how to take them; smoking cessation consultations to talk about your smoking habits, how to quit smoking, set dates for quitting, and consider personalized strategies; and professional advice regarding smoking cessation methods. We also make sure you stick to your smoking cessation plan by keeping an eye on your progress and making necessary adjustments.

Let smokers know that they should only smoke outside when they come to the house. Days may pass before the smell of cigarette smoke fades and the harmful chemicals from the smoke are no longer in the air. Your home will be much cleaner if you tell them to go out and smoke.

Secondhand smoking puts those around you at risk for health issues, as you are surely aware. They can still inhale smoke from your skin, clothes, and hair, along with the harmful substances it carries, even if you don’t smoke close to them. Secondhand smoke has no safe level so quitting smoking is the best way to protect your family from secondhand smoke. Our pharmacists at Montgomery Pharmacy are readily available to help you get started on your smoking cessation journey and provide you with the guidance to live a smoke-free life. 

We can support you with smoking cessation. Reach out to Montgomery Pharmacy for support today!