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Second-hand smoke

the cloud that can harm

By Veronica Baeza, MPA

Smoking has been recognized as a major cause of preventable disease and death for at least 40 years. But in the past 20 years a growing body of evidence has shown that exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) is also a threat to health. 38,000 people in the United States die of second-hand smoke-attributable illness every year.

The presence of toxic and carcinogenic components in second-hand smoke in the hair and body fluids of nonsmokers is as extensive as in active smokers. Numerous studies have examined the associations between SHS exposure and acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) health effects.

If you experience any of the following, you may have sensitivity to SHS:

• Irritation of the eyes, nose, and respiratory tract (these are the most common and firmly established adverse health effects associated with exposure to SHS.)

• Increased respiratory infections, middle-ear effusion (fluid inside the eardrum)

• Increased respiratory ailments; SHS may aggravate the symptoms of preexisting asthma and emphysema.

The scientific evidence that tobacco smoke in indoor environments is associated with acute and chronic respiratory illnesses, particularly in children, supports the adaptation of measures designed to reduce or prevent exposure to SHS. Such strategies may include increasing ventilation, eliminating the source of SHS by reducing active smoking, and limiting levels of exposure through indoor and outdoor smoking restrictions at parks, beaches, and at community events.

If you experience any of the above-listed symptoms, want to learn more about SHS, or want to learn about the services available in your community contact the San Diego-Tijuana Border Initiative at (619) 476-3556 xt.102. To quit smoking, contact the California Smoker's Helpline at 1-800-NO-BUTTS (1-800-662-8887)

New Study shows Hispanics Less Likely to Use

Medication to Quit Smoking

Hispanic smokers are nearly half as likely as white smokers to have ever used nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) when trying to quit smoking, according to a recent study published by the American Journal of Health Promotion. The study found 26 percent of Hispanic smokers have never used nicotine replacement therapy as an aid to quitting smoking, compared to the 50 percent of white smokers who have used NRT as an aid in smoking cessation. More

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