The Deadly Effects of Smoking and Secondhand Smoke

If you smoke, your body will be harmed - we all know that. But did you know that being around people who smoke today can also harm your body?

Smoking is the leading cause of death in the United States. However, it is often attributed to something else medically speaking. Deaths may be attributed to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and even diabetes - conditions that are worsened by smoking or caused by smoking.

If you don't smoke, you are already doing the first thing you can do to prevent these terrible, but preventable diseases. The second thing you can do is to avoid second-hand smoke," said Todd Mahr, an allergist and immunologist as well as an expert on the harmful effects of smoking at the Gunderson Health System. It means that if you are exposed to second-hand smoke, you are constantly in the presence of people who are smoking.

Second-hand smoke is a bigger problem for young children. When discussing third-hand smoke with parents, they often say "I never smoke around them," but the smoke still lingers on their clothing and in the surrounding area, which can still be harmful, according to Mahr. However, there is now one thing you can do to extend your life expectancy.

He said, "Some people don't consider e-cigarettes as smoking. Being unique is important, but being unique doesn't always mean it's a good thing. People say, 'I'm vaping. All I'm inhaling is water vapor.' But in reality, they contain chemicals that can lead to cancer.

This story is part of a series by the Valley Media Group exploring the leading causes of death from 1999 to 2020. The data in this story is sourced from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The fourth leading cause of death in the area.

Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease (CLRD) encompasses Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), including emphysema and chronic bronchitis, as well as asthma, pulmonary hypertension, and occupational lung diseases.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, responsible for 152,657 deaths.

In the valley region, 4,116 people died from CLRD in 2020, making it the fourth leading cause of death in La Crosse County, Vernon County, Dunn County, Trempealeau County, Chippewa County, and Monroe County in Wisconsin, as well as Houston County and Winona County in Minnesota.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) accounts for the majority of chronic lower respiratory diseases and is primarily caused by smoking in approximately 85% of cases.

Over time, exposure to irritants in cigarette smoke can weaken the lungs' ability to resist infection, leading to tracheal inflammation and damage to air sacs or alveoli. Long-term exposure to air pollution, smoke, chemicals, or secondhand smoke also contributes to the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as does vaping e-cigarettes and smoking marijuana. Symptoms of COPD include shortness of breath, wheezing, or chronic coughing.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has decreased from being the fourth leading cause of death in the United States in 2018 to the sixth in 2020, but its incidence rate may be higher than expected.

More than 50% of adults with poor lung function are unaware that they have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to a study conducted in 2013.

Dr. Hafiz Fakih, a pulmonary and critical care specialist at the Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System, explains that there may be a potential underreporting of deaths related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) due to the condition being listed as the cause of death instead of the actual underlying cause of death.

Fatal consequences

Smoking is terrible. But just how terrible is it?

Mahr states, "The most important thing is that smoking can lead to everything. We are talking about lower respiratory tract diseases, but it can lead to many illnesses and disabilities, actually harming every organ in the body.

Most Americans are aware that smoking has a significant impact on the lungs, but that's not all. According to Mahr, it affects a person's entire body.

Around 16 million Americans suffer from smoking-related diseases, including lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, smoking can also lead to or worsen heart disease, stroke, other lung diseases, diabetes, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. It even increases the risks of tuberculosis and eye diseases and can severely damage our immune systems. From a medical standpoint, smoking can affect everything. In relation to the COVID-19 virus, smoking also increases the risk of infection.

In recent years, there has been a significant decrease in the smoking rates of adults, going from 20.9% in 2005 to 12.5% in 2020. Additionally, smoking rates among youth have dropped from 23% in 2000 to 2.3% in 2021.

According to Fakih, while the mortality rate for men suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has decreased slightly, "the mortality rate for women with COPD is slightly higher," as the rate of female smokers declining is slower than that of men.

Race is also a factor in smoking rates - 21.9% of American Indians and Alaskan Natives smoke, as do 16.8% of African Americans and Blacks. Non-Hispanic white smokers have a slightly lower smoking rate at 16.6%, but their use of menthol cigarettes is only one-third that of African American smokers. Menthol products make smoking more enjoyable and harder to quit.

According to Fakih, we can manage the damage caused by smoking, but we cannot reverse it. When you quit smoking, the harm will come to an end.

The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened people's awareness of lung diseases. According to Mahr, it is now evident that simply wearing a mask every day is not the straightforward solution for calming lung infections and chronic illnesses.

It all depends on your personal risk factors. Respiratory illnesses are not very common, and most people would attribute them to community-acquired pneumonia and bronchitis. However, they are still fatal. Look at the statistics. Many people are struggling for their lives," Mahr said. "We know that one thing that increases your risk of disease and death is smoking. People should be aware of this. If possible, quit.

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