When many people think of tobacco-related health problems, they think only of adults and the problems of long-term smoking. Yet research now shows that children and adolescents suffer from serious tobacco-related health problems as well. Parents need to look at the facts about tobacco use and how it affects every member of the family—the infant and young child, the teenager, and the adult tobacco user.
Infants and children
As parents, you would not knowingly harm your children. Yet, if you smoke around your children, the smoke from your cigarette, called ETS (environmental tobacco smoke), may be harmful to them. Compared to infants and children of nonsmokers, children exposed to high levels of ETS have a much higher risk of:
* upper respiratory infection
* pneumonia
* bronchitis
* asthma
* reduced hearing (middle-ear effusion)
* ear infections
Children of smokers are at a higher risk of long-term lung damage, and exposure to the smoke from as few as 10 cigarettes a day increases the risk of getting asthma.
Smoking also is a serious health problem for pregnant women and their unborn infants. It has been linked to low birthweight, delayed growth, miscarriage, and stillbirth. Recent studies have found that newborns are at greater risk of dying from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) if a pregnant woman smokes or exposes her newborn to ETS. There is no question that exposure to ETS is a serious health threat to children.
Teenagers
Teenagers are strongly influenced by social pressure, how they see themselves, and how they want others to see them. In this country, advertisers spend $2.5 billion a year on tobacco ads. Many of these ads are aimed at teenagers. It is no wonder then that 90% of all smokers begin the habit during their teens. Over the past 10 years, the number of smokers has decreased in every as group except that of teenagers. In this group, the number of young women smokers has actually increased.
Tobacco ads make people think that if they smoke they will become more attractive, sexy, strong, adventurous, and worldly. What the teenage smoker really gets is:
* addicted to nicotine
* bad breath
* stained teeth
* long-term cough
* faster heart rate
* decreased lung function
* increased blood pressure
* decreased athletic ability
* increased risk of developing lung cancer
* heart disease
Smoking is a lifelong addiction that is often hard to break. It also may lead to a poorer quality of life. This is true for both the smoker and for those who share that smoker’s home.
Smokeless tobacco not a safe choice:
The term “smokeless tobacco†refers to both chewing tobacco and snuff. Chewing tobacco is a form of leaf. Snuff is finely ground tobacco. Both products lead to nicotine addiction because the nicotine is absorbed into the bloodstream. Tobacco products damage the lining of the mouth and throat and may cause mouth cancer, throat cancer, and gum disease
Use of smokeless tobacco results in the following:
* stained teeth
* bad breath
* slow healing of mouth wounds
* lowered sense of taste and smell
Tobacco companies have increased their advertising to promote smokeless tobacco products. Sports heroes often endorse these products, making them seem even more appealing to teenagers. As a result, the number of teenagers and young adults who are chewing and dipping is increasing. Parents need to oppose the use of smokeless tobacco. Inform your children of the serious side effects of its use. The facts on the health risks from smokeless tobacco make one thing very clear: it is not a safe choice
Fighting the influence of the tobacco companies and convincing children not to use tobacco products is a tough task. Doctors and parents need to give teenagers the facts about the negative effects of smoking.
Adult tobacco users
Smoking is the largest single preventable cause of death and disability in the United States. The facts are sad and serious. Most adult smokers are aware of the ill effects of smoking, and many would like to break the habit. Consider the following data:
* In this country, 350,000 deaths related to tobacco use occur each year. One third of all deaths from cancer and heart disease are caused by tobacco use. Three fourths of the deaths from chronic lung disease are related to tobacco.
* The nonsmoking spouse of a smoker has a 30% greater risk of lung cancer. This out-come alone accounts for 2,000 deaths a year.
* Teenagers whose parents smoke are twice as likely to start smoking as are children of nonsmokers.
* In 1964, 55% of adult Americans smoked cigarettes. By 1992, this percentage decreased to 29%. This shows that thousands of Americans have found a way to stop smoking. By doing so, they will live longer, feel better, and improve the health of their families.
Infants and children
As parents, you would not knowingly harm your children. Yet, if you smoke around your children, the smoke from your cigarette, called ETS (environmental tobacco smoke), may be harmful to them. Compared to infants and children of nonsmokers, children exposed to high levels of ETS have a much higher risk of:
* upper respiratory infection
* pneumonia
* bronchitis
* asthma
* reduced hearing (middle-ear effusion)
* ear infections
Children of smokers are at a higher risk of long-term lung damage, and exposure to the smoke from as few as 10 cigarettes a day increases the risk of getting asthma.
Smoking also is a serious health problem for pregnant women and their unborn infants. It has been linked to low birthweight, delayed growth, miscarriage, and stillbirth. Recent studies have found that newborns are at greater risk of dying from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) if a pregnant woman smokes or exposes her newborn to ETS. There is no question that exposure to ETS is a serious health threat to children.
Teenagers
Teenagers are strongly influenced by social pressure, how they see themselves, and how they want others to see them. In this country, advertisers spend $2.5 billion a year on tobacco ads. Many of these ads are aimed at teenagers. It is no wonder then that 90% of all smokers begin the habit during their teens. Over the past 10 years, the number of smokers has decreased in every as group except that of teenagers. In this group, the number of young women smokers has actually increased.
Tobacco ads make people think that if they smoke they will become more attractive, sexy, strong, adventurous, and worldly. What the teenage smoker really gets is:
* addicted to nicotine
* bad breath
* stained teeth
* long-term cough
* faster heart rate
* decreased lung function
* increased blood pressure
* decreased athletic ability
* increased risk of developing lung cancer
* heart disease
Smoking is a lifelong addiction that is often hard to break. It also may lead to a poorer quality of life. This is true for both the smoker and for those who share that smoker’s home.
Smokeless tobacco not a safe choice:
The term “smokeless tobacco†refers to both chewing tobacco and snuff. Chewing tobacco is a form of leaf. Snuff is finely ground tobacco. Both products lead to nicotine addiction because the nicotine is absorbed into the bloodstream. Tobacco products damage the lining of the mouth and throat and may cause mouth cancer, throat cancer, and gum disease
Use of smokeless tobacco results in the following:
* stained teeth
* bad breath
* slow healing of mouth wounds
* lowered sense of taste and smell
Tobacco companies have increased their advertising to promote smokeless tobacco products. Sports heroes often endorse these products, making them seem even more appealing to teenagers. As a result, the number of teenagers and young adults who are chewing and dipping is increasing. Parents need to oppose the use of smokeless tobacco. Inform your children of the serious side effects of its use. The facts on the health risks from smokeless tobacco make one thing very clear: it is not a safe choice
Fighting the influence of the tobacco companies and convincing children not to use tobacco products is a tough task. Doctors and parents need to give teenagers the facts about the negative effects of smoking.
Adult tobacco users
Smoking is the largest single preventable cause of death and disability in the United States. The facts are sad and serious. Most adult smokers are aware of the ill effects of smoking, and many would like to break the habit. Consider the following data:
* In this country, 350,000 deaths related to tobacco use occur each year. One third of all deaths from cancer and heart disease are caused by tobacco use. Three fourths of the deaths from chronic lung disease are related to tobacco.
* The nonsmoking spouse of a smoker has a 30% greater risk of lung cancer. This out-come alone accounts for 2,000 deaths a year.
* Teenagers whose parents smoke are twice as likely to start smoking as are children of nonsmokers.
* In 1964, 55% of adult Americans smoked cigarettes. By 1992, this percentage decreased to 29%. This shows that thousands of Americans have found a way to stop smoking. By doing so, they will live longer, feel better, and improve the health of their families.
