Secondhand smoke is actually one of the passive health effects of smoking; you might not do it, but you might get affected by someone who does. Moreover, if you smoke or know someone who does, you must have noticed the unpleasant smell and seen people wave off the smoke or cover their nose and mouth around you. But the unpleasantness of the smoke goes beyond the smell.
Secondhand smoke is the smoke released [exhaled] by a smoker or by the cigarette into the air. There are about 4000 chemicals in the secondhand smoke, 50 of which can cause cancer. In some, the carcinogenic products found are greater in secondhand smoke than the smoke inhaled by the smokers. There is also twice the amount of nicotine and tar in the secondhand smoke.
Cigarette smoke remains in the room for several hours. No amount of ventilation, air-filtration, or opening a window is effective in removing smoke from a building. The best way is to prevent secondhand smoking effects is to make it a rule to not smoke indoors.
The toxic chemicals found in cigarette smoke remains in the air much longer after you stub the cigarette. It settles on walls, fabrics, carpets, furniture, and toys. Anyone close to these objects may experience effects of secondhand smoke/passive smoking. If you are in a room or vehicle where people usually smoke, then you are exposed to secondhand smoke, even if no one smokes in your presence.
Effects of secondhand smoking on health
There are many secondhand smoking effects on the health. A slight exposure could cause serious problems. Children are the most affected as they breathe more rapidly and their immune system is vulnerable. Those exposed to secondhand smoke develop bronchitis, tonsillitis, asthma, and other respiratory problems.
Seniors, pregnant women and people who have cardiac or respiratory problems are at a greater risk.
Prominent secondhand smoking effects include irritation to the eyes, in the nose, and throat. It can also cause a headache, coughing, and nausea. It may increase the risk of asthma, lung infections, and even lung cancer. It can result in heart problems, damage reproduction system, and reduce fertility; it also leads to breast cancer, if exposed prior to menopause.
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Hearing loss – All you need to know
Read moreHearing loss gradually occurs as the body ages, making it common among seniors, but it can affect people of all ages due to a birth defect or damage to the ear due to an injury. Almost one-third of America’s population between the ages of 65 and 75 years suffer from some level of hearing loss. Depending on the part of the ear that’s affected, hearing loss can be divided into three types:
- Conductive: Hearing loss involving the outer or the middle part of the ear
- Sensorineural: This type of hearing loss involves the inner part of the ear
- Mixed: This is a combination of the other two types of hearing loss
Stages
Various levels of hearing loss have been identified by audiologists:- Mild hearing loss
People with mild hearing loss can hear sounds ranging between 25 and 40 decibels, so sounds like the ticking of a clock or a faucet dripping will be inaudible. Keeping up with a conversation that they have with one person might not be much of a challenge for people with mild hearing loss. - Moderate hearing loss
At this stage, people with hearing loss might not be able to hear sounds below 41 to 55 decibels. Moderate hearing loss patients can face difficulty keeping up with conversations, and the ringing of a phone or a doorbell might not be audible to people with hearing loss at this stage. - Severe hearing loss
People with severe hearing loss might not be able to hear any conversation without the help of a hearing aid. Also, hearing aids can be helpful to some extent in such cases, but they might not be foolproof. - Profound hearing loss
This is the most severe stage of hearing loss that makes it difficult for a person to hear sounds below 90 decibels. In fact, using a hearing aid might also not prove very effective at this stage.
Diagnosis
Several tests are undertaken to diagnose the issues one might be facing with their hearing abilities:- Physical examination: A doctor will examine a person’s ear for any earwax deposits or swelling caused due to an infection.
- Screening tests: The general whisper test is conducted to diagnose hearing loss.
- App-based hearing tests: There are apps on mobiles or tablets that anyone can use to screen for a moderate level of hearing loss.
- Audiometric tests: These are the more thorough tests conducted by an audiologist wherein the patient is asked to wear headphones and then words and sounds are sent to each ear to diagnose the extent of hearing loss.
Prevention
Over-exposure to loud noise and aging are the leading causes of hearing loss, but earwax buildup can also affect one’s hearing abilities temporarily.In most cases, hearing loss might not be treatable or reversible, but its effects can be minimized with help from an audiologist. There are several ways to prevent hearing loss caused due to aging and exposure to loud noise:
- Staying away from areas with loud noise
- Using hearing protection like earplugs
- Limiting exposure to loud sounds
- Using appliances or gadgets that have low noise levels
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An overview of the Apple iPad
Read moreApple iPads were first launched in 2010. After a good seven years, they have become a one of a kind brand feature in the tech market. Even though an iPad is nothing but a tablet, Apple Inc has designed such a great product and marketed it so well that they have a distinct identify and stand apart from other tablets.
Apple claims that they are the most sold products of Apple (yes, their sale is more than that of Mac book), except, of course, iPhone. iPad is preferred as a tablet for its class, for its performance and much more. Unlike PCs and tablets, iPad provides less distractions while working on it as only one window can be used efficiently. Some might regard this as a shortcoming, but it is actually the strength since distractions are hard to avoid with so many notifications and messages pinging on so many different applications.
Apple iPad pro comes in sizes 10.5 inches and 12.9 inches. Apple has made the choice now easier. A person who wants his tablet to be more portable can opt for 10.5 inches since it can be carried easily and be put easily inside backpack. 12.9 inches screen, on the other hand, is suitable for a person who has enough desktop space to keep it. It is also suitable when it is being frequently used for watching TV. The smoothness at which it works makes people prefer Apple iPad over any other tablets, even if they have to pay a little more.
Apple has now introduced tablets which are comparatively affordable than their previous versions. These lower prices have now made iPads even more popular than before. Just like any other Apple product, iPad is also enthusiastically bought by people for its quality and class. That’s the reason that people don’t think twice before pre ordering an iPad; they like to surprise themselves on what new they will experience with the new iPad.
There is also Apple care+ which can be bought as an insurance of the Apple iPad. No doubt, insurance can be bought from the outside as well, and some of the other companies also provide safety against theft. But, as much as the insurance of the outside companies is expensive, there is also hardly any need of protection against theft as the statistics show. So, it is better to be economical and opt for Applecare+.
But, there must be some other insurances available which might be better than Applecare+, only that they are rare and difficult to find. Even though Mac book laptops more or less play the same role as the iPad, there is a slight difference which is to be considered before deciding what to buy. While iPad is portable and cheaper in comparison to Mac book, the latter might be strictly preferred for professional uses as it has keyboard and the ease of use in the same context.
Despite being less than a laptop, iPad has its own place. The portable feature cannot be ignored, making it more preferable than the laptop. While the iPhone is portable, the small screen is not appropriate enough to be used for long time, especially for watching TV. This drawback is also compensated by the iPad. With a bigger screen, playing games can be an entirely different experience on an iPad.
With all these features and more, Apple iPad’s have made their own place in the market and a user’s heart Which cannot be filled either by phones or laptops. iPad has a unique place which is somewhere between mobile phones and laptops. And this place has been growing with the users getting more interested in getting their own iPads.