Each puff of cigarette smoke – a wound on a child's lungs.

Children living with smokers are unwittingly exposed to or inhale secondhand smoke. Smoke typically comes from two sources: passive smoke and sidestream smoke. Passive smoke is the smoke exhaled by the smoker. Sidestream smoke comes from the burning end of the cigarette and makes up the majority of the smoke in a given environment.

Secondhand smoke is 2-3 times more harmful than the smoke exhaled by smokers because it doesn't pass through the filter. A child in a room with several smokers for about an hour will absorb as many harmful chemicals as someone who smokes 10 cigarettes a day.

In general, children whose mothers smoke absorb more secondhand smoke than children whose fathers smoke because they typically spend more time with their mothers. Children breastfed by mothers who smoke are at the greatest risk because chemicals from secondhand smoke mix into their breast milk. This harm is comparable to the effects of secondhand smoke in the surrounding environment.

The harmful effects of tobacco on children's bodies.

1. Respiratory-related illnesses:Children who inhale secondhand smoke are more susceptible to lung-related diseases. Some common symptoms include colds, flu, coughs, phlegm, shortness of breath, and pneumonia. If they frequently live in contact with secondhand smoke, children may develop asthma and other chronic respiratory illnesses.

2. Smoking can cause sudden death:Nicotine in cigarette smoke can lead to breathing difficulties and sudden death in children.

3. The harmful effects of tobacco on the nervous system:Children's brains are still developing and maturing, so inhaling cigarette smoke can negatively impact their nervous system. This can adversely affect the development of reasoning and cognitive skills, as well as impair cognitive function, reduce memory, and lead to behavioral problems and hyperactivity.

4. Prevalence and severity of asthma:Children in families with smokers require more medical care and have twice the risk of daily asthma attacks, as well as more hospitalizations for asthma treatment, compared to children whose parents do not smoke.

5. Acute and chronic otitis media:Exposure to cigarette smoke also increases the risk of chronic ear infections and middle ear discharge. Middle ear infections can cause deafness and place a significant economic burden on families and affect the lives of children.

6. Cancer is one of the harmful effects of cigarette smoke:One of the most dangerous aspects of cigarette smoke is its potential to cause cancer in children at a very young age. High exposure to cigarette smoke in early childhood can lead to lymphoma, leukemia, and brain cancer. As children grow older, they are at increased risk of lung cancer, breast cancer, or cancer in other parts of the body.

7. Easily catch colds:Frequent exposure to cigarette smoke can make children more susceptible to colds whenever the weather changes. Therefore, take good care of your children and keep them away from cigarette smoke.

8. Cough:Children who are frequently exposed to cigarette smoke often cough. In more serious cases, they may cough excessively and have blood in their mucus when coughing.

9. Sore throat:Sore throat is one of the most common illnesses in young children when they are exposed to cigarette smoke. Even if the child doesn't smoke, the smoke you inhale affects them. The smoke can cause throat infections in children.

10. Bad breath:Children exposed to cigarette smoke are more likely to develop bad breath from a young age. This can affect their communication skills as they grow older.

11. Hoarse voice:Children may develop hoarseness if they are frequently exposed to cigarette smoke. During puberty, the voice develops, and if a child has been exposed to cigarette smoke beforehand, their voice will become hoarse. The harmful effects of cigarette smoke can make it difficult for children to regain their normal voice in adulthood.