Why is smoking bad for kids? Is secondhand smoke worse than smoking a cigarette?
Smoking is one of the most widespread addictions in the world. Every year, more than five million people die from diseases caused by smoking. Despite the well-known destructive effects on health, many people are unwilling to give up buying another pack of cigarettes. Currently, smoking at a young age is one of the most serious problems. Many teenagers start smoking early, which causes irreversible damage to their health.However, smokers are not the only ones exposed to the harmful effects of carcinogens in cigarettes. Their non-smoking family members and colleagues often suffer even more from this dangerous habit. Inhaling cigarette smoke as a non-smoker standing near a smoker is called secondhand smoking.
- How can you tell if your child smokes?
- Causes of smoking among teenagers and the impact of cigarettes on a developing body.
- Which is more dangerous: active or passive smoking?
- How can you help your child quit this bad habit?
Advice:
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How can you tell if your son or daughter smokes?
Although teenagers try very hard to hide the fact that they’ve started smoking from their parents, there are several signs that can help you find out whether your child smokes.
- Morning cough is one of the main signs. It is usually accompanied by phlegm and fades by midday. It often appears soon after the teenager has smoked.
- Increased fatigue and shortness of breath. You might suspect smoking if your child seems to tire more easily or struggles to keep up with their usual physical activity.
- Excessive attention to personal hygiene. If your child showers more than usual or brushes their teeth during the day, they may be trying to mask the smell of cigarettes.
- A specific smell of tobacco on your child's clothes.
- Packs of cigarettes, matches, or a lighter. Finding any of these in your child’s belongings may indicate they have started smoking.
There are several main reasons why a child might start smoking:
- Lack of self-confidence. Children with low self-esteem may smoke to prove something to themselves or others;
- Psychological discomfort or stress. A child may start smoking out of loneliness or because of a lack of love and attention. Problems at school or home—such as parental divorce—can increase the risk. In such cases, teens may try to escape reality through smoking.
- Lack of communication. Teenagers who spend time with a group of smokers may start smoking to avoid feeling left out.
- Parents who smoke. If you smoke but forbid your child from smoking, your words will not be convincing. Teenagers whose parents smoke are much more likely to become smokers themselves.
- Curiosity. The forbidden often seems more enticing. Children may try smoking simply out of curiosity. Smoking is often shown in movies or seen among adults, which can make it seem attractive or like a symbol of adulthood. Many children want to grow up faster, which leads to experimentation with bad habits.
It has been proven that the death rate from smoking is higher among those who started smoking while still in school, compared to people who started after the age of twenty-five. At a young age, smoking causes irreversible harm to health. A growing body exposed to cigarette smoke does not develop properly. Cigarettes can slow a child’s physical growth.
The development of internal organs is also negatively impacted. The central nervous and cardiovascular systems are suppressed. Aggression, insomnia, and irritability can appear. Memory may suffer as well, making school more challenging for smokers compared to their non-smoking peers. The risk of cancer increases. The aging process accelerates. Girls who smoke age faster and develop wrinkles earlier. Smoking teenagers are also at higher risk for acne than their non-smoking peers.
Which is more harmful: active or passive smoking?
Research has shown that passive (secondhand) smoking is no less harmful than active smoking. It is especially dangerous for pregnant women and small children. If you smoke in a house where a small child lives, their body can become even more intoxicated than yours. Consider this the next time you light a cigarette. Ironically, non-smokers often inhale more toxic substances than smokers themselves.
What should you do if your child has started smoking?
- Do not judge them. Try to find out how often they smoke, when they started, and why.
- Explain that smoking destroys their health. Share examples of friends or relatives who have suffered from the effects of smoking.
- Banning only increases interest. Make sure your child understands the dangers of smoking, but punishing them is likely to make them simply hide the habit rather than quit.
- Be a role model. If you smoke, quit. Set an example by living without cigarettes.
- Encourage a healthy lifestyle from an early age. Today, it’s no longer considered trendy to smoke. It’s cool to have a healthy lifestyle and participate in sports and fitness activities.