Children Exposed to

SECONDHAND SMOKE

What is secondhand smoke?

What are the Effects for children?

Secondhand smoke (SHS) is also called environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). It’s a mixture of 2 forms of smoke that come from burning tobacco:

Mainstream smoke: The smoke exhaled by a smoker.
Sidestream smoke: Smoke from the lighted end of a cigarette, pipe, or cigar, or tobacco burning in a hookah. This type of smoke has higher concentrations of cancer-causing agents (carcinogens) and is more toxic than mainstream smoke. It also has smaller particles than mainstream smoke. These smaller particles make their way into the lungs and the body’s cells more easily.

Dangers for Children:

Kids are particularly at risk for the effects of secondhand smoke because their bodies are still growing and they breathe at a faster rate than adults.

These conditions have been linked to secondhand smoke exposure in children:

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
More respiratory infections (such as bronchitis and pneumonia)
More severe and frequent asthma attacks
Ear infections
Chronic cough

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The Problem:

How to solve:

Children are particularly affected since they breathe at a more rapid rate and their immune system is more vulnerable. Children exposed to cigarette smoke develop more cases of otitis, tonsillitis, asthma, and other respiratory problems. Seniors, pregnant women and people with cardiac or respiratory problems are also at greater risk whenever they are exposed to second-hand smoke.

Second-hand smoke irritates the throat, nose, and eyes of people who are exposed to it. It can also cause headaches, coughing, and nausea as well as increase the risk of developing asthma, lung infections, and even lung cancer. It can bring about cardiovascular problems and damage the reproduction system by reducing fertility. Second-hand is also a risk factor for breast cancer, especially when exposure occurs prior to menopause.

The best way to help build a smoke-free world is to stop smoking. If you smoke and would like to quit, speak to your pharmacist for advice. If you are not ready to stop smoking yet, here is some advice that will allow you to limit exposure to your second-hand smoke:

As much as possible, don’t smoke in the house or in the car
Never smoke in the presence of children, seniors, and people who are ill
Just because smoking is permitted in certain places, it does not mean that you have to light up. For example, if you’re enjoying summer weather on a terrace somewhere, be courteous and abstain from smoking. If you light up, you will certainly inconvenience people around you
Even if it bothers you, please respect other people’s desire not to be exposed to second-hand smoke