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Infants and Secondhand Smoke - A Hurtful Combination

Everyone feels that smoking is unhealthy, especially for children. But what are the real effects of secondhand smoke on children, particularly the infant and secondhand smoke? Let’s study the health effects on a child who is exposed to secondhand smoke.

Secondhand smoke is the name of the smoke that is emitted by a lit cigarette mixed with the smoke that is exhaled by a smoker engaged in the business of smoking. This type of involuntary exposure affects all those who are next to a smoker, 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, as it is contained in cigarette smoke, will lead to low birth weight in a newborn. And, it may contribute to prenatal death and resulting miscarriage. After the infant 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 warning. Children who survive their infancy and later on suffer from asthma will find their attacks to be more acute than those of their counterparts who live in smoke free environments. Because of the toxins that are exhaled as well as put forth from a lit cigarette, children who are exposed to secondhand smoke quite often 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 sampling of the effects of secondhand smoke on children.

Nonetheless, the most grevious damage done by tobacco smoke to children is the damage inflicted on their lungs. An infant and secondhand smoke are a hurtful combination. Infants who were exposed to nicotine in utero, oftentimes have restricted lung functions, which is the reason they are more susceptible to succumbing to SIDS after birth. One of the reasons why infants are so adversely affected by secondhand smoke is the fact that their breathing rate is quicker than an adult’s breathing rate, and thus, by weight, they are inhaling a heavier proportion of secondhand smoke and all its toxins than an adult would. Add to this fact the developmental immaturity of an infant’s lungs and it is no surprise that so many hospitalizations can be directly linked to a parent’s smoking around the children.

Another issue to think about is the amount of exposure of youngsters to cigarette smoke. Oftentimes smokers have other smokers within their close circle of friends and acquaintances and are less likely to regulate smoking to the porch or any other location apart from the children. So, a child is usually not only exposed to a parent’s or caregiver’s secondhand smoke, but also to that of their friends, family, and other adults. Unfortunately, children who are exposed regularly to secondhand smoke will be at a high risk of developing lung cancer, following in the footsteps of their smoking parents and caregivers. Potentially the worst thing about smoking related hospitalizations in children who were exposed to secondhand smoke is the fact that this could have been summarily avoided, particularly cases that involve an infant and secondhand smoke. Do not wait until it is too late and the effects of secondhand smoke on children are permanent. Make sure your kids live in environments that are smoke-free. Put the respiratory health of your kids before the risks involved with smoke exposure. Limit your child’s opportunities for secondhand smoke exposure, and quit smoking before it is too late!

Article Source: http://free-article-depot.com

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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