Secondhand smoke can cause harm in all of us, especially our children!
Tobacco is the leading cause of death in the United States, but you don't have to be a smoker to get burned. The research says that secondhand smoke does hurt us and our children. Common sense supports research findings. What are the facts?
Secondhand smoke is defined as the smoke that is released into the air from a burning tobacco product. It is the smoke that a smoker breathes out into the air or the smoke from a burning cigarette, pipe or cigar. You may have heard the terms Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS), involuntary smoking, or passive smoking. Whatever you choose to call it, this secondhand smoke can cause harm in all of us, especially our children.
If you are a pregnant smoker or are around secondhand smoke, there are many health risks to your baby. Stillbirths, spontaneous abortions, premature birth, ectopic pregnancy, and placental problems are linked to tobacco smoke. Many of these prenatal risks are related to the toxic chemicals and the reduced oxygen that have a direct effect on a developing baby.
Maryland has recently had several deaths from carbon monoxide from furnaces, but babies are exposed to carbon monoxide if the pregnant mother smokes or is around secondhand smoke. New research is finding a connection between maternal smoking and behavioral problems as children grow. Children who breathe secondhand smoke have more health problems. There are more doctor visits for pneumonia, bronchitis, lung disease, and ear infections.
The American Public Health Association states that children who are exposed to smoke before or after birth have a 50-100% higher risk for acute respiratory illness and double the rate for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). They are more likely to develop asthma and have more frequent asthma attacks. Childhood and adult cancers are more common. Somewhere between 7,500 and 15,000 hospitalizations result from secondhand smoke exposure in children. One recent study has noted that there is a link between tobacco smoke and Metabolic Syndrome.
People with Metabolic Syndrome have too much belly fat which in turn increases their chance of developing heart disease, stroke, and diabetes - all significant and potentially life-threatening diseases. Did you know that even dental cavities have been associated with smoke exposure?
What can you do to avoid secondhand smoke? Don't let anyone smoke in your house. Smoking in one room or the basement will still spread secondhand smoke to other parts of your house. Ask visiting smokers to go outside, and be careful when you visit others. If they smoke in their homes, try to arrange a neutral place to visit, such as the movies or a nonsmoking restaurant. Perhaps you can visit but stay outdoors where the secondhand smoke is less confined. Explain that you are concerned about the effect of secondhand smoke on your child's health. Offering healthier alternatives with your interactions is a win-win for everyone.
Be aware of smoking in cars, restaurants, or anywhere where others may smoke. Do not allow others to smoke in your car. Not only is it healthier for you and you child, you will spend less time cleaning. Most malls and shops are nonsmoking, but beware of breathing in a lung full of smoke as you enter or exit. Find places to shop where staff and customers do not smoke at the entrance.
Talk to your child about the risks involved with smoking and why it's important to avoid secondhand smoke. Discuss the addiction, the money smoking costs, the wrinkles, the death toll. Use learning opportunities, such as when they see a movie star smoke, to personalize why it is better not to be smoke or be around smoke.
Advocate for nonsmoking places! Write to your newspaper or legislative representatives. Call your local chapter of the American Lung Association, American Cancer Society, or American Heart Association. Tobacco is the leading cause of death in the United States. But you can make a difference. Remember that many people would like to quit but are addicted and may have difficulty quitting. Don't yell at them.
Let them know in a kind and caring way that you will be there for them when they decide to quit. Smokers may have rights, but not the right to harm my child. As a parent, I need to protect my child from as much as I can. This includes secondhand smoke!
Jan Kilby RN, MS Education Specialist Franklin Square Hospital Center Jan coordinates tobacco prevention and cessation programs at Franklin Square Hospital Center in Baltimore, Maryland. You can find out more about these programs by going to Franklin Square's website at www.franklin square.org.
