Posts Tagged ‘Irreversible’

Effects of Secondhand Smoke on Children Can be Irreversible

Friday, July 30th, 2010

Everyone feels that smoking is bad, especially for young people. But what are the possible effects of secondhand smoke on children, especially infants and secondhand smoke? Or, take a look at SOA and health effects of a child who is exposed to secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke is the name of the smoke emitted by a lit cigarette mixed with smoke exhaled by a smoker in the process of smoking. This method of involuntary exposure affects all those who are near a smoker, and so of course children. The effect can be seen during pregnancy, even before the child is born. Studies have shown that prenatal exposure to nicotine, as it is contained in cigarette smoke, lead to low birth weight newborns. In addition, it can contribute to prenatal death and resulting miscarriage. After the baby is born, secondhand smoke has been linked to the dreaded sudden death syndrome (SIDS) which causes healthy infants less than one year of age die without identifiable causal. Children who survive their childhood and later develop asthma find their attacks to be more acute than their counterparts who live in smoke-free. Because of the toxins that are exhaled as well as released from a lit cigarette, children who are exposed to secondhand smoke often develop respiratory infections such as chronic bronchitis, postnasal drip, and frequent colds. Of course, there are also risks to the health of others, such as an increased risk of ear infections and sore throat, and what are some ideas on the effects of secondhand smoke on children. Nevertheless, the worst damage done by tobacco smoke to children is the damage to their lungs. An infant and secondhand smoke is a combination offensive. Infants who were exposed to nicotine before birth, have consistently limited lung function, which is why they are more susceptible to succumbing to SIDS after birth. One reason why children are so affected by secondhand smoke is that their breathing rate is faster than an adult, the respiration rate AA, and therefore, by weight, they receive a large amount of secondhand smoke and all its toxins than an adult would. Add to this factor in the development of an immature child, AO lungs and it is clear that many hospitalizations can be directly traced to a relative, AA smoking around children. Another question to ponder is the quantitative exposure of children to cigarette smoke. Usually smokers have other smokers within their circle of friends and acquaintances and choose not to regulate smoking in the garage or any other place away from children. Thus, a child is often not only exposed to a parent or caregiver AA, AOS secondhand smoke, but also that of their friends, their families and other adults. Unfortunately, children who are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke is a high risk of developing lung cancer, following in the footsteps of their smoking parents and caregivers. Perhaps the worst aspect of smoking hospitalizations among children who were exposed to secondhand smoke is that it could have been summarily avoided, particularly cases involving children and secondhand smoke. Do not wait until it is too late and the effects of secondhand smoke on children are permanent. Make sure your children stay in smoke-free. Put the respiratory health of children before the risks related to exposure to smoke. Control your child opportunities for AA exposure to passive smoking, and quit before it’s too late!

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