Consequences of passive smoking in home environment

Abstract

Passive smoking means cigarette smoke inhaling by people other than smokers. Passive smoker inhales tobacco smoke coming not only from side-stream, but also smoke exhaled by the smoker. Long-term tobacco smoke inhaling increases the risk of appearance of smoke related diseases (for example COPD, heart diseases), including the most dangerous types of cancer, which only few smokers realize. The aim of this study was to check whether tobacco smoke inhaling in home environment from childhood to adulthood has an influence on respiratory system of adults. The study included adults. In the study two types of participants division were used. Among 1481 persons two groups were separated. Group 1 contains people, who have never lived in home environment with active smokers, altogether 465 persons. Group 2 contains people who from birth have been exposed to cigarette smoke inhaling (altogether 1016 persons). With help of the author's questionnaire the information concerning demographic features and smoking habit were gathered. The patients underwent doctor's examination. They had a spirometric test and a chest radiogram. Statistically significant differences appear among persons with higher education who belong to two different groups. The number of children who have lived in smoke free rooms during childhood and adolescence and finished studies is bigger than the number of active smokers' children (p<0.001). Over 90% of never smokers have inhaled cigarette smoke since childhood in home environment. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has been diagnosed at 47.5% of active smokers, 48.3% of ex-smokers and up to 44.7% of passive smokers. Cigarette smoking and smoke inhaling for more than twenty years has a significant influence on the appearance of COPD. No statistically significant differences were noted among the three groups of participants. (p>0.05). Cigarette smoke inhaling at childhood and adolescence should be taken seriously because it causes development of chronic diseases like COPD. GOLD 2006 standards convince that at every stage of COPD development the effects of this disease may be partly reversed if one stops smoking cigarettes. That is why a child should not be exposed to cigarette smoke at any stage of its life. Permanent inhalation of tobacco smoke since early childhood in home environment influences equal occurrence of COPD at passive, ex- and active smokers. Reduction of tobacco consumption, better care concerning passive smokers, increasing consciousness of parents smoking in home environment may protect their children from serious health consequences in the future.