Today, announcements are made in apartment complexes and other multi-family housing urging residents not to smoke indoors. This is because there are still people who smoke in bathrooms or on balconies. The main complaint from residents is, "Please prevent cigarette smoke from seeping into our homes." However, smokers remain unyielding. There are even people smoking near children's playgrounds, which are clearly designated as no-smoking areas. Let's take another look at smoking and lung health.
In the Past, People Smoked Freely in Homes, Offices, and Restaurants... "I Really Disliked Cigarette Smoke"
In the past, many people smoked freely in their homes, offices, and restaurants. In South Korea, indoor smoking has been legally prohibited since 2015. Before that, many suffered from secondhand smoke. They struggled with the acrid smell of cigarette smoke. Above all, they worried about their health, including lung cancer. According to the National Health Promotion Act, all areas of office buildings, factories, and mixed-use buildings with a total floor area of 1,000㎡ or more are designated as no-smoking areas. A fine of up to 100,000 won is imposed for indoor smoking in no-smoking areas.
48% of Women's Smoking-Related Medical Expenses Are Due to Secondhand Smoke
The National Health Insurance Service's Health Insurance Research Institute recently published research conducted in collaboration with the World Bank in the international journal The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific. For women, approximately 48% of smoking-related medical expenses were found to be due to secondhand smoke. It has been confirmed that the damage caused by smoking extends not only to the smokers themselves but also to non-smokers around them. About 80.7% of all smoking-related medical expenses occurred in individuals aged 50 to 79. The exposure to smoking accumulated over a long period led to hospital visits.
Lung Cancer Costs a Lot of Money... Over 10,000 Female Patients Each Year
Looking at the medical expenses related to smoking, cancer-related medical expenses accounted for about 14 trillion won, or 35.2% of the total. Among these, lung cancer accounted for about 7.9 trillion won, the largest share. Lung cancer treatment is lengthy and involves high-cost chemotherapy, leading to significant expenses. According to national cancer registration statistics, in 2022 alone, there were 32,313 patients in the country. Notably, there were 10,667 female patients. When looking at the ages of patients combined, 33.7% were in their 70s, 30.4% in their 60s, and 20.9% were over 80. There are more elderly patients compared to other cancers. Smoking and secondhand smoke have accumulated over time, leading to lung cancer.
Today, There Are Still People Blowing Out Cigarette Smoke on the Streets... Why Don't They Consider Others?
It is important to note that approximately 48% of women's smoking-related medical expenses are due to secondhand smoke. What could be the reason for an 80-year-old woman, who has been a lifelong non-smoker, to develop lung cancer? One of the risk factors could be that she has inhaled the cigarette smoke from her heavy-smoking husband in the living room and bedroom for decades. Just 20 years ago, people freely smoked even in their bedrooms. How many smokers at that time considered the health of others? Today, there are still many who smoke in public without hesitation. Even when there are children around, some people blow out cigarette smoke. The damage from secondhand smoke is far more serious than one can imagine.
