| As you stand in line at the pharmacy picking up the | | | | infections. For those of us who have gone through |
| prescription for ADD medication for your eight-year | | | | endless sleepless nights with a crying child, multiple |
| old child, your mind wanders back to the | | | | rounds of antibiotics, steroids and tubes, ear |
| conversation you had with his doctor. | | | | infections are the stuff of nightmares. All children are |
| "Did Johnny have recurring ear infections as a child?" | | | | susceptible to ear infections in the first eighteen |
| "Yes" | | | | months, but those who breathe in secondhand hand |
| "Did he have respiratory infections as well?" | | | | have an even greater risk of chronic ear infections, |
| "Yes" | | | | which may lead to hearing loss. |
| "Ma'am, does anyone in your household smoke?" | | | | Finally, children of smokers, particularly mothers who |
| "I do, why? Is that somehow related?" | | | | smoked while pregnant have a much greater |
| "Unfortunately, ma'am, studies have shown a | | | | likelihood of experiencing a non-verbal learning |
| connection between secondhand smoke and all of | | | | disability like hyperactivity. If not than, then a |
| these issues" | | | | potential learning disability connected to the same |
| Too stunned to really hear much more of the | | | | exposure to smoke. If you have children, or want to |
| conversation, you walk out of that office holding a | | | | have children consider the risks of secondhand |
| prescription for your now-hyperactive son wondering | | | | smoke. For their sake, if not yours, talk to your |
| if you are responsible for his issues. | | | | doctor about medication, for example Chantix and |
| Don't let this happen to you! Become educated to | | | | stop smoking before it is their health or their brain |
| the hazardous effects of secondhand smoke on | | | | that suffers. |
| children, then stop smoking before the little one in | | | | There are many stop smoking solutions like for |
| your house becomes nicotine's latest little victim. | | | | example Chantix, a stop smoking aid from Pfizer, |
| The Effects of Cigarette Smoke on Children: | | | | recently approved by the FDA. It acts on the same |
| One of the most frequently affected areas in the | | | | areas in the brain as nicotine by provide similar stimuli. |
| bodies of children whose parents smoke is the lungs. | | | | The effect of this is to reduce the horrid withdrawal |
| Sadly, these children are more prone to everything | | | | symptoms. It also blocks nicotine, should the smoker |
| from sinus infections to much more serious chronic | | | | start back to old habits. Isn't it time to ask yourself |
| respiratory problems. Moreover, these children are | | | | whether you would rather stand in a pharmacy for a |
| more prone to bronchitis and even pneumonia. So, if | | | | prescription for hyperactivity medication or stand |
| you won't use a cure stop smoking for yourself, then | | | | there for a stop smoking aid like Chantix potentially |
| do it for your little one's respiratory health. | | | | preventing such health and educational risks for your |
| Secondhand smoke doesn't just affect their little | | | | son or daughter? |
| lungs. It has also been connected to chronic ear | | | | |