In this video, Dr Peush Bajpai, HOD & Consultant Medical-Hemato Oncologist at Manipal Hospital, Delhi, addresses the myth that only smokers are at risk of developing lung cancer.
He sheds light on a concerning trend—a significant rise in lung cancer cases among non-smokers, especially women and young adults, in recent years. Dr Bajpai emphasizes that passive smoking, or inhaling second-hand smoke, plays a major role in this increase.
Passive smoking occurs when individuals breathe in smoke exhaled by a smoker or emitted from a burning cigarette. This smoke carries numerous carcinogens—substances capable of causing cancer—that enter the lungs directly. Unlike smokers, passive smokers do not actively inhale these harmful chemicals, but the exposure is equally damaging.
The particles in second-hand smoke are incredibly small and bypass the respiratory system's natural filtration mechanisms, such as nostril hairs and mucosal secretions in the throat. These carcinogens penetrate deep into the lungs, damaging the tissue and increasing the risk of DNA mutations that can lead to cancer.
Dr Bajpai highlights that many non-smokers diagnosed with lung cancer have a history of exposure to second-hand smoke, often from family members or others in their surroundings who smoke. This rising trend of lung cancer among women and younger adults points to the significant impact of passive smoking and its long-term health risks.
He underscores the importance of awareness and preventive measures, such as creating smoke-free environments, to protect non-smokers from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.
By reducing exposure to these dangerous carcinogens, we can help curb the growing incidence of lung cancer in non-smokers. Watch this video to understand the hidden dangers of passive smoking and why it’s essential to take action for better lung health.