Kids who are exposed to cigarette smoke have a very high risk of developing asthma and allergies. Hence, parents should be careful in ensuring that their kids are not exposed to the cigarette smoke.
Second hand smoke or Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) is a mixture of the smoke exhaled by the smoker and the smoke from the cigarette. Second hand smoke is very harmful for kids as it consists of about 40, 000 chemicals and traces of poisons like cyanide, arsenic etc.
How Cigarette Smoke Harms The Kids:
Numerous studies have shown a clear link between cigarette smoking and allergies in children. The following are the ways in which smoking harms the kids:
- Asthma: Smoking causes up to 26, 00 cases of asthma every year
- Seasonal allergies: Babies exposed to secondhand smoke are twice more likely to develop allergies to pollen and pet dander
- Food allergies: Children whose parents smoke are 50% more likely to develop food allergies
- Middle ear infections: Children suffering with asthma, who stay with a smoker, are 6 times more likely to miss the school because of middle year infections
- Respiratory problems: Children with asthma, staying with a smoker are 2 times likely to miss school because of respiratory problems
Create a Smoke-Free Home:
To keep your kids safe from the risk of allergies and asthma, the best way is to quit smoking. Various medicines such as nicotine gums, tables, patches etc. can help you to quit smoking. Also, many clinics and organizations are available which can help you to stop smoking. Even if you smoke, make sure your kids are not around you. If you have guests who smoke at your home, politely ask them to stop smoking.
Smoking is dangerous not only for the smoker, but also for the kids who inhale the second hand smoke. Hence, keep your kids away from cigarette smoke and protect them from allergies.
1 Comment
Thank you for this…I help out my mother and father in law because they are very old. I do some cleaning for them a few hours each day. My mother-in-law smokes. I bring my children there. A few months ago I took my 3 year old to the doctor and he told me that she had seasonal allergies. But I know that taking her to that house didn’t help. I feel like a horrible mother. She won’t stop smoking. Should I just not go back? I mean she is the grandmother…and I don’t know what to do. It’s my childs health…do you think having her there made her develop the allergies??? I just want to know what you think.