Second hand smoke causes hearing loss

[Jesuscookies]

Those damn smokers!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11758345

Hearing loss linked to passive smokingBy Michelle Roberts

Health reporter, BBC News

Some people choose to smoke, while others have little say in the matter

People who are exposed to the second-hand smoke from others' cigarettes are at increased risk of hearing loss, experts believe.

Doctors already know that people who smoke can damage their hearing.

The latest study in the journal Tobacco Control, involving more than 3,000 US adults, suggests the same is true of passive smoking.

Experts believe tobacco smoke may disrupt blood flow in the small vessels of the ear.

This could starve the organ of oxygen and lead to a build up of toxic waste, causing damage.

The harm is different to that caused by noise exposure or simple ageing.

In the study, the researchers from the University of Miami and Florida International University looked at the hearing test results of 3,307 non-smoking volunteers - some who were ex-smokers and some who had never smoked in their lifetime.

Listening problems

Continue reading the main story

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Before you next light up a cigarette, consider how it could impact not only on your own long-term hearing but your friends' and relatives' too.”

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Dr Ralph Holme

RNID

The tests measured range of hearing over low, mid and high noise frequencies.

To assess passive smoke exposure, the volunteers had their blood checked for a byproduct of nicotine, called cotinine, which is made when the body comes into contact with tobacco smoke.

This revealed that people exposed to second-hand smoke were far more likely to have poorer hearing than others, and to a degree where they might struggle to follow a conversation in the presence of background noise.

Passive smoking increased their risk of hearing loss across all sound frequencies by about a third.

Dr David Fabry, who led the research, said: "We really do not know exactly how much smoke you need to be exposed to in order to be at increased risk. But we do know that the threshold for damage is very low.

"Really, the safe level of exposure is no exposure."

Dr Ralph Holme, head of biomedical research at the RNID (Royal National Institute for Deaf People), said: "We already knew from our own research that regular active smoking is a significant risk factor leading to hearing loss and this new study is important as it highlights the increased risks posed by passive smoking too.

"Hearing loss can often be very frustrating and lead to social isolation, if not quickly addressed.

"Before you next light up a cigarette, consider how it could impact not only on your own long-term hearing but your friends' and relatives' too."

[tjhernandez34]

I guess that's why second hand smoke only leads to second hand cool...

[Warren]

Sorry, what did you say?

[#2 man]

That explains why you have to wait for another for another drink

[El Presidente]

That explains why you have to wait for another for another drink

i have now heard it all

[laficion]

WHAT ??

[thechenman]

What will they come up with next?

[Montaigut]

Now before we all take off like Chicken Little let's look at this report in light of today's world shall we...

What, in the following list, would in your opinion be the cause of the most hearing loss?

1. The increasing db level in everyday life?

2. The pervasive use of in-ear headphones?

3. Screamers in bed?

4. Super loud rock concerts? By the way, have you noticed the numbers of smokers attending rock concerts? The vast majority if one goes by the numbers of lighters on hand at the end of the concert! The odds are that all the "ex-smokers" in the Tobacco Control study are hard core rock concerts fans... Would that be a credibility issue with the report's conclusions and/or objectivity???

5. The ever increasing drone of the "doo-gooders" shouting at you if, God forbid, they see you enjoying a stick?

6. Physical allergy response to the politically correct speak?

7. Etc...

8. And yes, by gum, SMOKING!

Give us a break folks: what ever happened to common sense!

And yes, if there are people out there deeply worried about this, here is a good business opportunity for someone:

- Worry Wart brand earmuffs with cotinine filters built in.

[PigFish]

Eat right, live right, vote left, die anyway! I will keep my cigar, smoke it proudly were ever legal and continue to tell those who object to "**** off." Perhaps those who have lost their hearing were people happy to attempt to prove that second hand smoke was doing something awful to them and have simply had "**** off" screamed at them enough times to damage their hearing.

These stupid studies prove nothing. I suppose if you surveyed the numbers of great leaders who smoked you could likely statistically prove that smoking mades you a great leader! Hog wash!!! -Piggy

[Michel1968]

@ Montaigut

:lol:

[anacostiakat]

"...The ever increasing drone of the "doo-gooders" shouting at you if, God forbid, they see you enjoying a stick? ..."

[bolivr]

"The latest study in the journal Tobacco Control, involving more than 3,000 US adults, suggests the same is true of passive smoking.

Experts believe tobacco smoke may disrupt blood flow in the small vessels of the ear.

This could starve the organ of oxygen and lead to a build up of toxic waste, causing damage."

The key words there are 'may' and 'could'. In other words no scientific certainty, therefore

[frenchkiwi]

Sorry i couldn't quite read that, i'm slowly going blind due to first hand exposure to masturbation.

Anyway, we all know that smoke is carcinogenic in many ways and for just about any part of the body it comes into contact with, but only in large amounts over extended periods of time.

That's why as with all other things, i smoke In Moderation, and i smoke cigars, that are not particularly addictive in a physical sense (habanos are in a psychological sense imho or else i wouldn't be on this site ha ha). As opposed to "Nicotine Delivery Devices".