What effects does second-hand smoke have on children/teens growing up in a smoker's household?

Question

What effects does second-hand smoke have on children/teens growing up in a smoker's household? Especially when both parents smoke?

Answer 1

This is my persuasive essay i had to do to get people to not smoke (just a little extra help):

Smoking has been killing people all over the world. About 1,200 people die, everyday from inhaling smoke (Homeier & Izenberg, 2005, [Online]). This number could be decreased if smoking was banned all over the world. People today are more informed about how bad smoking is to us and yet we still tend to go past that and smoke anyway. Those who smoke don’t know that smoking can take over their money, choices they make and without quitting, their life.
When you smoke, not only are you harming yourself but you are influencing others as well. “Statistics show that about nine out of 10 tobacco users start before they're 18 years old (Izenberg, 2004, [Internet]).” Kids start smoking because they think it is cool or just want to try it. Another reason why kids start smoking is because their parents smoke. “Children whose parents smoke are twice as likely to start compared to those with non-smoking parents. In contrast, a study by the World Health Organization found that the 11 to 15 year olds, who were most likely to be smokers were lonely, had difficulty talking to parents, had problems at school and had started drinking alcohol (Bonas, 2005, [Internet]).” When you start to smoke, you never know, maybe later when you have kids, they will get addicted also and you will be the cause of their shortened life. When you are having trouble in school and you need some way to get help, smoking is just going to make it worse. It will disrupt life in your family and with your friends.
When you smoke, others inhale some of the smoke. “Nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke at home or at work increase their risk of developing heart disease by 25 to 30 percent and lung cancer by 20 to 30 percent. In addition, secondhand smoke causes respiratory problems in nonsmokers such as coughing and reduced lung function. Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at an increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome, acute respiratory infections, ear problems, and more severe asthma (NIDA, 2006, [Internet]).” When you smoke around others, they get hurt for a wrong choice that you have made.
Smoking is very addicting and it may be hard to stop. Without trying your life could be shortened by 14 years (Izenberg, 2004, [Internet]). “Smoking is a hard habit to break because tobacco contains nicotine, which is highly addictive. Like heroin or other addictive drugs, the body and mind quickly become so used to the nicotine in cigarettes that a person needs to have just to feel normal (Izenberg, 2004, [Internet]).” Men and woman smoke for different reasons. Some girls smoke to lose weight. “The illnesses that smoking can cause, like lung diseases or cancer, do cause weight loss - but that's not a very good way for people to fit into their clothes (Izenberg, 2004, [Internet])!” When people start smoking and start getting addicted, they constantly tell themselves that they are not going to get addicted. The truth is, they already are. “Smoking kills more people than alcohol, AIDS, car crashes, illegal drugs, murders, and suicides combined -- and thousands more die from other tobacco-related causes -- such as fires caused by smoking (more than 1,000 deaths/year nationwide) and smokeless tobacco use. (Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, 2006, [Internet])”
“Cigarette smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer death in women and men (The Patient Institute Inc., 2006, [Internet]).” There are many other harmful effects that smoking can cause. “Almost everyone knows that smoking causes cancer, emphysema, and heart disease; that it can shorten your life by 14 years or more…(Izenberg, 2004, [Internet])” There are also effects that everyone will be able to notice, not just your doctor. These include, bad breath, yellow teeth, smelly clothes, being frequently sick, difficulty keeping up with others, and not much money because smoking tobacco products can be very expensive! (Homeier & Izenberg, 2005, [Internet]). Smoking causes changes in both your social and physical lives.
The number one way to stop smoking is to not start. Smoking is a waste of your money and life. It causes very harmful effects to you and the people around you. If smoking were made illegal and everyone knew its effects, less people would be dying from the dangerous diseases that smoking can cause and the money used to buy cigarettes, could be used for other useful purposes.

Answer 2

Ask me why I don't let my husband smoke around my children? I did a round of home health and took care of this patient with COPD. The doctor held up the x-ray and said "This is a consequence of smoking all your life" She had never smoked a day in her life, but worked in offices all her life that allowed smoking. Your kids have the possibility of getting cancer before you.

Answer 3

Of course there are. The anatomy of the dog and cat are almost identical to the human, just that the body parts and organs are positioned differently. The body of a dog or cat will still function the same way as a human, ie, the mechanics of respiration, therefore a dog or cat is still affected by smoke.

Answer 4

Asthma
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPDs)
Cancer
Heart Disease
Strokes

Answer 5

Cancer and Asthma....even if a parent tries to smoke outside instead of in the home, the allergy triggers of smoke will still trigger asthma

Answer 6

The children of smokers are much more likely to be asthmatic.

Answer 7

it has worth health effects than straight smoking. so either you quit or make your kids smoke. unless you want them to die before you.

Answer 8

the children mite pick up the habit themselves
the children mite develop lung problems or asthma

Answer 9

As what our participant "Doctor" said.

Answer 10

It gives them an excuse to hate their parents and whine about every little cough they get for the rest of their stupid lives.