Some people have a habit of smoking in the bathroom to pass the time or to facilitate bowel movements. However, they often overlook the fact that smoking in the bathroom is more harmful than smoking outside.
Smoking in a bathroom, which is usually a relatively enclosed and confined space, leads to lower oxygen levels and increased carbon monoxide levels due to incomplete combustion of tobacco. Inhaling large amounts of carbon monoxide can damage the central nervous system, increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and trigger angina.
Inhaling smoke in the bathroom also increases the levels of ammonia in the air, which is highly irritating to the respiratory system. Severe irritation to the upper respiratory tract weakens the body's resistance and increases the incidence of respiratory diseases, especially in individuals already suffering from respiratory problems.
Many smokers have a habit of smoking in the bathroom, believing that nicotine stimulates bowel movements. While nicotine initially stimulates intestinal motility, prolonged dependency on smoking for bowel movements can lead to slowed intestinal motility and constipation when lacking nicotine stimulation.
Smoking in the bathroom is not limited to men, as many women also smoke in the bathroom. In addition to the aforementioned risks, women who smoke in the bathroom may experience or worsen gynecological issues such as menstrual disorders, fertility difficulties, ectopic pregnancy, low estrogen levels, osteoporosis, and early menopause.
For pregnant women, harmful substances in carbon monoxide can enter the fetal bloodstream, leading to carbon monoxide hemoglobin formation and hypoxia. Nicotine can also constrict blood vessels, reducing blood and nutrient supply to the fetus, affecting normal development, and increasing the risk of spontaneous abortion, fetal growth restriction, and low birth weight. Smoking in the bathroom significantly increases carbon monoxide levels compared to outdoor smoking, thus greatly increasing the probability of miscarriage.
Smoking in the bathroom not only exacerbates the aforementioned diseases but also poses risks to others' health. Passive inhalation of harmful substances in smoke is not lower than that for active smokers. The concentration of tar in exhaled smoke from smokers is twice as high as in inhaled smoke, while benzopyrene is twice as high, and carbon monoxide is four times as high. This is even more significant in the damp and enclosed environment of the bathroom.
According to international sampling surveys, 50% of cancer patients caused by smoking are passive smokers. Therefore, smoking in the bathroom not only endangers one's own health but also "plots against the lives of others."
Furthermore, nicotine in cigarettes reduces hormone secretion and damages sperm, leading to reduced quantity and quality, and lower chances of conception. Smoking can also cause testicular damage, male sexual dysfunction or disorders, and may even cause macular degeneration. Smoking in the bathroom intensifies these risks as harmful substances are multiplied by inhalation.
