Children listen to their parents, especially when it comes to important topics, such as tobacco use. Since children who don't use drugs such as cigarettes are less likely to have other serious problems later in life, you can make a positive impact on your kids by relaying the proper information to them about smoking.
Addicting
Smoking usually doesn't kill a smoker on the first puff. However, the first puff is rarely the last because of nicotine, which is addictive. A stimulant that causes your child to feel energized, nicotine also causes his body to depend on the added energy boost. Within a matter of weeks, your child can become addicted to cigarettes, joining the nearly 4,000 American children who become lifetime smokers every day.
Deadly Consequences
Smoking is a risk factor for many dangerous and deadly diseases. Cigarette smoking can result in lung cancer, other lung diseases, heart disease, asthma, arthritis and peptic ulcers. It is the number one cause of preventable deaths. Additionally, indoor smoking starts house fires, killing 1,500 children each year.
Energy Draining
Children who smoke can expect to have less energy to play with their friends or participate in sports at a high level. This is because cigarette smoking results in difficult breathing, reduced energy levels and, ultimately, decreased athletic prowess.
Decreased Overall Health
Smoking increases your child's risk for other illnesses and poor hygiene. If your child smokes, she can expect to develop a cough, suffer more colds throughout the year than is normal and experience hoarseness on a regular basis. She will also have bad breath and stained teeth and clothing.
Secondhand Smoke
Breathing cigarette smoke exhaled by other individuals is also dangerous to your child's health. Known as secondhand smoke, this poisoned air is full of thousands of toxic chemicals, including formaldehyde, cyanide and benzene, according to MayoClinic.com. And the danger isn't only present when the smoke is visible---it can continue floating around for hours after the last puff of smoke was blown, and the smoke residue can become embedded into couch cushions, clothing and carpeting, putting your child at continued risk for cancer, lung disease and cardiovascular disease.
