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Dangers of Second Hand Smoke
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Question. I am curious as to your input on the following issues. What are your thoughts regarding children forced to suck in the fumes of their parent's cigarettes, cigars and other unmentionable smokes? Should the parents pay for the damage done to young lungs? What about pregnant smokers? Or, should we continue to ignore accountability? ~ George, Mississippi USA
Response. George, your questions fan the flames of a very hot topic. Frankly, yes parents have the responsibility of ensuring the good health of their children, as well as a safe environment.
As an individual who lived in a house filled with smoke from a '3-packs of cigarettes per day smoker', I know the long-term potential effects that smoking presents. At times, my lungs ached, my eyes burned, and I really hated the way that I smelled when the smoke settled into my clothing, as well as my skin - which always seemed to have a yellow hue back then. My beloved father had no idea of the potential dangers that smoking presented at that time.
Since then, studies have taught us things that we only wish we knew 'back then'. At one time, the tobacco industry advertised smoking as a healthy outlet, as something that might even prolong life. They portrayed the smoker as sexy, attractive, as 'hip'. People tried it; people became addicted.
To be fair, the ingredients laced into cigarettes make it very difficult, if not impossible in some cases, for the smoker to quit. My father struggled for years to kick the habit, and it wasn't comfortable watching him endure withdrawal when he finally quit smoking.
Back to your questions... To a child suffering from respiratory disease or heart disease, it is essential that their environment be as free as possible from harmful smoke which can not only be damaging, but potentially fatal. Children are often the innocent victims, and due to their innocence they are unable to speak up and say, 'Please mommy and daddy, let me breath healthy, clean air'. Therefore, it is up to the parents and guardians to ensure such.
As for pregnant women who smoke....well, it's pretty sad for both the mother and child. The mother has to live with that for the rest of her life, and be continually plagued with guilt regarding her child's health - far into that child's future, for we all know the long-range effects that smoking presents.
I imagine a string of uncomfortable lawsuits involving children & parents in our future. This presents an opportune time to encourage all parents to isolate your children from smoking, as medical studies have overwhelming proven the damage smoking does to the body. And if you are pregnant and smoke - then don't!
One issue that seems to always escape our minds is the effect that smoking has on household pets. Not long after I wrote an article relating to this, the news media seemed to suddenly sprout stories on this topic, but unfortunately the awareness swiftly faded. So please, if you have pets and smoke, go outdoors before you light up.~ Sky at Diet Bites.
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