| If you are a smoker and find it difficult to | | | | states in the United States are banning any |
| quit, even knowing what it will do to your | | | | type of public smoking in restaurants and |
| health, you might want to consider the | | | | bars, there are some establishments and areas |
| effects of smoking to those of your family | | | | that have not banned this. |
| and loved ones. Many people have different | | | | |
| opinions when it comes to second hand smoke | | | | As you continue to smoke, not only are you |
| and its effects on others. However, one thing | | | | endangering your own health, but of those |
| that is bothersome is that the ones suffering | | | | around you as well. You are increasing their |
| the most from smoke exposure are children. | | | | risks of heart disease and lung cancer. |
| Children have no way of avoiding the damages | | | | Furthermore, in children you are increasing |
| caused by smoke, because they have to remain | | | | their risks of health issues because their |
| within the home. As a parent, it is your | | | | lungs are not yet fully developed. At the |
| responsibility to see to it that the children | | | | same time, children have no choice but to be |
| have good health. If you do not stop smoking, | | | | in the environment you create for them. |
| you are not doing this. | | | | Infants and children of smokers often have |
| | | | increased risks of asthma, pneumonia, |
| ETS (Environmental Tobacco Smoke) is also | | | | bronchitis, and sudden infant death syndrome. |
| referred to as second hand smoke. This | | | | |
| results in two specific forms. The first is | | | | While you may know it, more than three |
| the smoke that is coming from the lit side of | | | | thousand people in the United States die |
| the smoking apparatus, either a cigarette or | | | | thanks to lung cancer from exhaust smoke. |
| some other form of tobacco, also referred to | | | | This is true even if the person has never |
| as side stream smoke. The second is the smoke | | | | smoked in their life. More than 35,000 |
| that is exhaled by you, the smoker, also | | | | Americans die yearly of second hand smoke |
| referred to as mainstream smoke. What many | | | | causing coronary heart disease. |
| people do not know is that Environmental | | | | |
| Tobacco Smoke contains more than four hundred | | | | Asthma in children, thanks to smoke exposure |
| different chemicals. Of these four hundred | | | | is diagnosed to between 8,000 and 26,000 |
| chemicals, more than fifty contain agents | | | | children yearly. 15,000 children are |
| that cause cancer, also known as carcinogens. | | | | hospitalized each year because of bronchitis |
| | | | caused by exhaust smoke, and some 150,000 to |
| What is bad is that Environmental Tobacco | | | | 300,000 children develop bronchitis. These |
| Smoke is present everywhere you go. For | | | | are alarming figures and many people simply |
| example, if you are in a smoker's home, in a | | | | do not realize the affects of second hand |
| workplace where smoking is allowed, or other | | | | smoke on others around them. They feel they |
| public places such as bowling alleys, | | | | are only hurting themselves, when in fact; |
| casinos, bars, and restaurants. However, many | | | | they are hurting every person they meet. |