The world has always been warned that cigarette smoking is dangerous to our health. It is the cause of life-risky diseases such as lung and esophageal cancers, heart disease, stroke, aneurysm and a lot more. If smoking has been dangerous to adults who are smomers, how much more and what could have been its effect to the second hand smokers especially the babies? Is it as life-threatening to children as it is to adults? Let’s find out.
Effects of Secondhand Smoking to Babies
•Respiratory Infectons. Babies who are exposed to secondhand smoking are much more prone to develop respiratory infections and lung diseases.
•Ear Infectons. Experts speculaten that when a child is exposed to secondhand smoke, the tube in his ear may become blocked up or inflamed. This can cause for water and dirt to be trap inside the ears making it an ideal place for bacteria and infections.
•Asthma and Allergies. Children are more probe to asthma and allergies once exposed to secondhand smoke. Not only because of the toxicity of the smoke but also because of the contained harmful chemicals in it.
•Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. This refers to sudden death of healthy infants (below one year old) during sleep. There is no scientific reason for it but secondhand smoking is one of the factors that researchers see as a contributing factor.
•Sickly Children. With the exposure in secondhand smoking, children are more prone to getting sick. They could easily get cough, wheezing, bronchitis and even pneumonia.
How to Save Children from Secondhand Smoke
•From pregnancy, avoid smoking or avoid being in the same room with someone who smokes. Even if the baby is still inside you, he is unsafe from all the hazardous things you could encounter like secondhand or thirdhand smoking.
•Newborn babies are very vulnerable. Protect them. Never let anyone smoke around you. Even inside the car with windows down, it is still unsafe. Completely eliminate smoking from your daily lives. The child’s welfare should come first.
•When going out into the public, always be vigilant and check if the place you are in designates a smoking area or not. Children are helpless so stand up for them.
•Ask relatives, friends, nannies, baby siyters and care givers to step outside when they smoke. Inform them that you don’t allow smoking near your children.
•As early as toddler stage, teach your kids to avoid people who are smoking. Make them understand how dangerous and risky it is for their health.
It takes a very consistent effort and sacrifice to be able to raise our children. They are supposed to be well taken cared off. Take the responsibility to save and protect your children from secondhand smoke risks.