WELCOME...
+contains more than 4000 dangerous chemicals...
w
Because secondhand tobacco smoke
+has been classified as a class A carcinogen along with asbestos, radon, and
benzene...
+causes respiratory and ear problems, decreased lung performance, chronic
coughing and wheezing, bronchitis, pneumonia, fluid in the middle ear,
allergies, asthma, cancer, heart disease and more...
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My
name is Jacque Petterson. If you are concerned about secondhand smoke,
please send your questions to me and I will post the answer here.
Send questions by email to Jacque@SmokingHurts.com or by U.S. mail to: SmokingHurts.com, 12274 Bandera Rd., Ste. 210, Helotes, Texas 78023-4387. |
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November 30, 2007 Q. I was pleased to find the website and your insight on matters of second hand smoke. As a young woman who just turned 21 I have some concerns. I was struggling with college and tuition bills and managed to get a job for an insurance agent at above minimum wage which is a feat for where I live. My two employers were heavy chain smokers and already cancer survivors from it but refused not to smoke around me. I have always had big dreams about becoming a singer and was at the job to save money to leave for a town with opportunity. I knew I shouldn't work in the environment and kept the door open as much as possible to try to inhale as little of the smoke as possible. After 8 months I finally left because I couldn't handle it. I've done the math of working 8 hour days for 8 months five days a week around second hand smoke and its not pretty. I'm sulking as I write this and kicking myself. My throat has been giving me lots of problems and I saw an ENT about a month ago who said the swollen lumps on my neck were saliva glands from allergies. The swelling hasn't subsided and I'm seeing another ENT in about a week for a second opinion. I haven't noticed too much of a change in my singing voice expect for my lung capacity (probably from the smoke and I need to exercise to rebuild that) and it hurts to sing because of the swelling on the side of my neck. It causes a lot of pressure. I haven't sang in about 2 months like I used to to avoid permanent damage. Do you think that the smoke is what caused this persistent swelling? Is it possible to get cancer from the 8 months? Did you notice a change in your speaking voice? I just need some input. I'm freaking out. A. I wish we all (including me) had learned to say no to working in secondhand smoke in the first place. We are just now getting to the point where we understand the dangers, and the government refuses to provide the education needed to make the right choices before it is too late. Here is a great news piece on CNN about the dangers of secondhand smoke. http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/health/2007/11/26/cohen.secondhand.smoke.cnn (Note this link was posted 11/30/07 and may not be available at a later date.) I do believe the damage to your throat is from the heavy doses of smoke you were forced to inhale. Although it is certainly possible to get cancer from the smoke after eight months of breathing it, it is more likely you will not. It would depend on your genetic makeup and whether your body is more or less prone to cancer. I am glad you are going to another ENT for a second opinion since the swelling is not subsiding. Hopefully they can find a solution, and get the problem resolved. My voice has been changed, but I believe more due to the medications (inhalers) I have been forced to use daily to continue breathing. I can no longer hold a tune as the alto I used to be (some days are better than others). f for some reason you should end up with a serious problem as a result of the secondhand smoke, please let me know. I know an attorney that might be interested in talking with you. ************************* November 25, 2007 Q. I just returned this evening from visiting someone who is a smoker (inside the house). I was in the room approximately two hours while the smoking continued. This is my husband's sister's house so I was not at liberty to tell them to go outside and smoke. My husband is an ex-smoker so of course he was enjoying the smoke and the horrific smell. My question is this, have I suffered any damage to my lungs just for this short period of time (two hours) while breathing second hand smoke? At the moment, my lungs fill very "tight" and " heavy". Should I be concerned and will this go away? I have decided that I cannot visit this person again. I had no idea that she would smoke in front everybody. Thanks for your response. A. Long term damage is not likely for such a short time, but it has been proven that 30 minutes of secondhand smoke can cause a heart attack. It restricts the arteries. I have copied below an article on a study that was just released. It has been found that when smoke-free workplace laws go into effect the heart attack rates drop dramatically, including for non-smokers. So, the tightness and heaviness in your chest is a concern, and this experience should not be repeated. It can also be an asthmatic reaction. If it does not go away you should see a doctor. As long as you do not go where people are smoking in the future you should be fine. The big problem is finding nice ways to explain to those who don't understand. I have found for the heavy smokers, their families and friends, they rarely truly understand. You just have to remember they are in the great minority, your health is priority and be as nice as you can. Make a rule that you do not go where smoking is permitted and ask everyone before you go to their home or business, "Do you allow smoking?" and if they say yes, just politely explain you will not be able to go there. I don't know how your husband will react if you say you will not go to his sister's house in the future if she is going to allow smoking. This could actually require counseling. I hope this helps. SMOKEFREE WORKPLACE LAW
REDUCES HEART ATTACKS 59% AMONG NONSMOKERS, NEW RESEARCH SHOWS
##
Americans for Nonsmokers’
Rights is a national, member-based, not-for-profit organization based in
Berkeley, CA that is dedicated to helping nonsmokers breathe smokefree
air in enclosed public places and workplaces. ************************* Q. I live in a small Georgia town and was wondering if it is a law for all restaurants to be smoke free? I ate at one today - I mean a small one, and the smell alone was horrific. I had my grandsons (both preemies with lung problems) with me. At first I thought it was just the building and old smells until I saw one of the ladies there light up. Can you tell me what the law is and why this person can do that when all others in town cannot? A. My understanding of the law In Georgia is they can only allow smoking if no one under 18 is allowed in that business. I believe they were in violation and need to be reported to the health department or police department. Until the Georgia laws are stronger you should ask before entering a restaurant if they are "completely" smoke-free. Be careful how you ask that question as some think if they have a non-smoking section they are smoke-free, which, as you know, is not the case. ************************* Q. Yesterday, I was in a rehearsal for three hours in a medium size closed window room, with about 10 people smoking cigarettes simultaneously, the entire time. Can this one rehearsal affect or damage my singing or vocal health in any way? (I'm an opera singer) J. A. For most of us I would normally say it was probably not enough to cause noticeable permanent damage unless an illness resulting from the smoke, or medications taken for such an illness, affects the vocal cords. But, because you have special training, and even a minor injury could be a problem, I would say it might be possible. If this is happening on even an occasional basis it can definitely cause permanent harm. If you believe there has been damage you need to find a throat specialist - one that understands the dangers of secondhand smoke - and make an appointment. Never let any doctor intimidate you into believing your concerns are not valid. Many doctors are still ignorant about tobacco smoke and its dangers. I know singers who have permanent damage from ongoing secondhand smoke exposure and can no longer sing at all. It is very hard to be the one who says I will not risk my health or my voice because people do not wish to be inconvenienced and go outside to smoke. It has been a learning experience for all of us. We have to learn to be strong and take the humiliation when they make fun of us until they get it. I do want to mention that being in a room full of people who come back inside immediately after smoking outside can also do harm on a regular basis as well. The chemicals "outgas" and can affect the throat, and cause asthma attacks or other health problems. ============================================= Blog: December 18, 2007 A few years ago I began printing out articles across the United States on fires in apartments and condos. I very quickly filled a three-ring binder, and decided enough was enough. There are at least three to five major fires in multi-unit housing every week. This includes death, injury and displacement of families who have lost everything they own. It is very rare that only the smoking individual is the ONLY victim. Laws requiring fire safe cigarettes are rapidly becoming the norm, but until more is done cigarette-related fires will destroy lives and property. I do not believe that smoking should be permitted in any apartment or condo building, hotel or nursing home, and especially not in hospitals (yes, some hospitals still allow smoking, and often it is the mentally ill they are accommodating). It is time to stop this insanity of believing that it is scandalous to tell someone they can't smoke inside their own home, hotel or hospital room. Lives and property are at stake just because they don't want to be inconvenienced to go outside. I plead for all lawmakers to make it so. Jacque Petterson ============================================= Blog: November 30, 2007 I heard this morning on one of the national morning shows that Austin, Texas continues to be the number one, hottest place to live and work in the U.S.. Austin has been a completely smoke-free city, including most bars, for over a year. What does that say about smoke-free workplace laws? It says it is a positive not a negative. It is time all cities and states recognized that smoking in public is dangerous for everyone who has to breathe the smoke. Smoking is simply a convenience - not a right, and it is time we protected the innocent lungs of all. ============================================= Blog: November 14, 2007 My lung disease is advancing now to the point where when someone who has smoked comes near me my rescue inhaler is no longer affective. The chemicals from their clothes, hair and breath enter my lungs and my problems begin. My breathing becomes labored, I have spasms in my lungs, and it lasts for up to 24 hours. I have passed asthma, and believe that COPD is taking over. I think back to my last job working with a chain smoking agent at ICM. That is International Creative Management, in Beverly Hills, California. This is one of the largest talent agencies in the world. You have to be very famous to even talk to one of their agents. I started working in the accounting department in 1988, about seven years before the smoke-free workplace laws began. There was a lot of smoking in that building. One young woman in our department, a very bookish lady, about 23, with long blonde hair and large glasses, announced one day that she had developed asthma. Her doctor advised her to use her inhaler and wear a mask at work. I know everyone thought she was just a bit weird, and exaggerating her problems. Another young woman, about the same age, also developed breathing problems. When I last saw her she had ballooned in size and explained the doctor had put her on steroids to help her breath, and that was why she looked so heavy. I eventually worked with that chain smoking agent in a small room for a year and a half. It was just a few years after I left that job that my asthma kicked in. Who knew back then what the smoke was doing to us? But, we know it now, and there is just no excuse for working in secondhand tobacco smoke. If you do, I hope you will start looking for another job tomorrow. And be sure to let your employer know why. And, please, email me when you do. Jacque Petterson ============================================= Blog: March 7, 2007 I strongly oppose the current proposed FDA bill for control of tobacco. This bill has been designed by Philip Morris to make their lives easier and does not allow the real problems to be addressed. Below is a letter I sent in opposition, which states many of the reasons.
Dear Senator Enzi, c/o Amy Muhlberg:
Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
STATEMENT FOR THE RECORD Re: S.625 - FDA Regulation of
Tobacco Products
Ref. 2/27/07 Committee Hearing
By Jacque Petterson, Individual, Citizen, Voter and Family member
I oppose the above S.625 - FDA Regulation of Tobacco Products "as
written".
I received a copy of the letter to you by my friend
Laurie
Comstock and wish to express to you my reasons for believing
this bill "as written" must be changed or defeated.
My first husband smoked and died of cancer at the early age of 39
(just like Laurie Comstock's dad). I have lost numerous aunts,
uncles and my step-mom to either lung cancer or emphysema from
smoking. My current husband has lost relatives to smoking.
Yes, we need to address the problem of teen smoking, but we also
need to find ways to help the adults that have been addicted all of
their lives to stop as well.
The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (I believe
S. 625 and H.R. 1108) AS WRITTEN is a bad bill unless the following
items are changed.
This bill:
I respectfully request that you NOT support this bill as is. If these problems are addressed this could be a good bill. I have four Web sites dedicated to education on secondhand smoke:
http://smokinghurts.com/ Jacque Petterson |
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SECONDHAND SMOKE Are you or someone you know a victim? Working, living or playing where tobacco smoke is present can cause serious health problems for non-smokers. We allowed ourselves to be exposed to these dangers because we had not understood the true dangers and how it would affect our lives. We would like to hear from you if you would be interested in having your contact information available for groups in your area working on smoke-free air laws. Please email your story with your name, email address, (mailing address optional) city, zip code, and (phone numbers-optional). We will maintain a database so you can be found and your voice heard. EMAIL US HERE! |
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