Smoke
A Kericho medic has cautioned non-smokers to be wary of exposing themselves to second hand cigarette smoke saying it can cause adverse health effects.
Second hand smoke is smoke from burning tobacco products like cigarettes, cigars and pipes. Second hand exposure occurs when people breathe in smoke from burning tobacco products. Exposure also occurs when people breathe in smoke exhaled by someone who is smoking.
In an interview with KNA, a resident surgeon at AIC Litein Kericho Annex clinic Dr. Philip Blasto pointed out that there was no safe level of exposure to second hand smoke (SHS) and can produce harmful inflammatory and respiratory effects within 60 minutes of exposure which can last for at least three hours after exposure.
“People who smoke are exposed to a toxic mix of over 7,000 chemicals in one cigarette. People who do not smoke but are exposed to second hand smoke are inhaling many of the same cancer-causing substances and poisons that are inhaled by people who smoke. A brief exposure to SHS can damage the lining of blood vessels and cause blood platelets to become thicker. These changes can cause an increased risk of heart attack. With active smoking, the longer the duration and the higher the level of exposure to secondhand smoke, the greater the risk of developing lung cancer,” said Dr. Blasto.
The medic revealed that parents who smoke and expose their young ones to SHS is more pronounced than to adults this can lead to acute respiratory infections such as bronchitis, ear infections and severe asthma respiratory symptoms and slowed lung growth even pregnant mothers get affected and their unborn babies too added Dr Blasto.
“Children whose parents smoke around them maybe in confined places like homes or in cars get more ear infections, wheezing, coughing and this SHS can trigger an asthma attack in a child which can put a child’s life in danger. Women exposed to secondhand smoke during pregnancy are more likely to have newborns with lower birth weight increasing the risk of health complications such as sudden infant death syndrome,” noted Dr. Blasto.
Dr. Blasto advised smokers to quit as this was the best decision they can make for their health as long-term exposure to cigarette smoking had a significant effect on their cognitive abilities as well as to their health.
“Some people smoke because of nicotine the addictive component in tobacco. Cigarette smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals and quitting smoking is one of the most important actions people can take to improve their health. Cigarette smoking affects nearly every organ of the body causing many diseases such as cancer, heart disease and stroke, lung diseases and type 2- diabetes. It also increases the risk for tuberculosis, certain eye diseases, and weakens the immune system making it hard for the body to kill cancer cells. There is slow cognition of the brain depending on the quantity and frequency of what you are smoking so the higher you smoke there is reduced cognitive reduction,” added Dr. Blasto.
According to a report published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) Kenya is ranked seven with the highest population of tobacco users aged 15 years and above in Africa, with 3.1 billion users as of the end of 2022 with males dominating the habit at 89 per cent.