Some of the immediate effects of passive smoking include eye
irritation, headache, cough, sore throat, dissyiness and nausea.
Adults with asthma can experience a significant decline in lung
function when exposed, while new cases of asthma may be induced in
children whose parents smoke. Short term exposure to tobacco smoke
also has a measurable effect on the heart in non-smokers. Just 30
minutes exposure is enough to reduce coronary blood flow. Almost half
of all children in the UK are exposed to tobacco smoke at home.
Passive smoking increases the risk of lower respiratory tract
infections such as bronchitis, pneumonia and bronchiolitis in
children. One study found that in households where both parents smoke,
young children have a 72 per cent increased risk of respiratory
illnesses. Passive smoking causes a reduction in lung function and
increased severity in the symptoms of asthma in children, and is a
risk factor for new cases of asthma in children. Passive smoking is
also associated with middle ear infection in children as well as
possible cardiovascular impairment and behavioural problems.