Stop Smoking With EASE

By Ron King

Everyone understands that smoking is dangerous, especially for youngsters. But what are the real effects of secondhand smoke on children, particularly the infant and secondhand smoke? Let’s take a look at the health effects on a child who is exposed to this nasty habit.

Secondhand smoke is called such because it is emitted by a lit cigarette mixed with the smoke that is exhaled by a smoker. This method of involuntary exposure affects all those who are in close proximity, and thus of course children. The effect can be seen during pregnancy, even before a child is born. Tests show that prenatal exposure to nicotine will cause low birth weight in an infant. Also, it may contribute to prenatal death and resulting miscarriage. After the baby has been born, secondhand smoke has been connected to the much-feared sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) which causes healthy infants less than one year of age to die without a known cause. Children who survive their infancy and later on get asthma will find their attacks to be more prolonged than those of their counterparts who live in smoke-free environments. Because of the toxins that are exhaled as well as released from a lit cigarette, children who are exposed to secondhand smoke frequently succumb to respiratory tract infections such as chronic bronchitis, postnasal drip, and frequent colds. Of course, there are also other health risks, such as an increased risk of ear infections and sore throats, and these are only a few of the effects on children.

Unfortunately, the most grievous damage done by tobacco to children is the harm inflicted on their lungs. An infant and secondhand smoke are an abusive combination. Infants who were exposed to nicotine before birth, oftentimes have restricted lung functions, which is the reason they are more susceptible to succumbing to SIDS during the first months of life. One of the reasons why babies are so harmfully affected is that their breathing rate is quicker than an adult’s breathing rate, and therefore, by weight, they are ingesting a bigger amount of secondhand smoke and all its toxins than an adult would. Add to this factor the developmental immaturity of a child’s lungs and it is clear that so many hospitalizations can be directly connected to a parent’s smoking around the children.

Another factor to think about is the amount of exposure of youngsters to cigarettes. Normally smokers have other smokers within their direct circle of friends and will not regulate the activity to a porch or any other location separate from the children. Thus, a child is usually not only exposed to a parent’s secondhand smoke, but also to that of their friends, family, and other adults. Sadly, children who are exposed constantly will be at a high risk of developing lung cancer, just like their smoking parents and caregivers. It may be that the worst aspect of smoking related hospitalizations in children is the fact that this could have been summarily avoided, especially the cases that involve an infants. Do not wait until it is too late and the effects of your secondhand smoke on children are beyond repair. Make sure your kids live in environments that are smoke-free. Put the respiratory health of your kids in front of the risks involved with exposure. Monitor your child’s opportunities for secondhand exposure, and quit smoking before it is too late!

For more info, check out Infants and Secondhand Smoke or Tips on How To Stop Smoking. Ron King is a web developer; visit his website Authoring Articles.

Copyright 2008 Ron King. This article may be reprinted if the resource box is left intact and the links live.

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Tags: Deadly Combination, Infants, Secondhand Smoke