• Living with someone who smokes means that you could be exposed to cigarette smoke and other forms of smoke without knowing.

    Working a restaurant job or as a waiter is a common avenue of exposure.

    Even a very brief exposure to smoke can negatively affect your health.

    Whether it is cigarettes or vape or weed, chemicals are released in the air every time we burn something. The amounts and what is released may vary.

    You are exposed in 2 ways;

    a)what is released directly by the burning object being smoked

    b) and what the smoker is exhaling

    These harmful chemicals may linger in the air and on surfaces for sometime, even after smoking.

    If one smokes in a separate room, the smoke can spread between rooms and still cause harm.

    Toxins can be found on clothes and furniture.

    Indoor air filters do not adequately protect us.

  • The exposure to smoke will affect everyone’s health.

    You are likely to have diseases similar to someone who smokes

    These include;

    Lung cancer

    Heart problems

    Low birth weight babies/premature babies

    Children with breathing problems

    Sudden death of children

    TB

    Pneumonia

    Ear infections and Meningitis

    among others.

    So it is important to look out for yourself and everyone else.

  • The short answer is to QUIT. It may not happen immediately but below are some suggested solutions while efforts are made to quit;-

    Its best NOT to smoke indoors.

    Smoking in a separate room is not protective.

    Don’t smoke in cars. This can still harm others.

    The smoker may find it stressful to smoke outside but it is the BEST.

    Inside, things can be improved by opening windows for many hours but there are NO guarantees that you won’t be exposing yourself to harmful chemicals unnecessarily.

    Changing clothes may help after smoking to get rid of residue.

  • Quitting is the best solution.It will benefit everyone

    Ways to encourage the smoker to quit are by not smoking around them, if you are a smoker.

    Help them quit.

    Discuss with them at the right moment, about why they smoke.

    Encourage them to attend smokers support group.

  • Its never too late.

    The decision to make some adjustments will reduce the likelihood of having health problems.

    Look after yourself and those you care about.