Local guest column: Protect kids from all kinds of smoke
Despite advances made to help people avoid the dangers of tobacco products, millions of children are still at risk for being exposed to second-hand and “third-hand smoke.”
These dangers can cause health problems such as head and neck cancer, upper respiratory tract disorders, tooth decay and behavioral issues.
In honor of Kids ENT month this February, it is time to reinforce the need for public awareness on the dangers to children of tobacco smoke.
Smoking, second- and third-hand smoke each can kill you and harm your children. The term “third-hand smoke” is a relatively new phrase that describes the chemical contaminants from cigarette smoke that remain in the air and on surfaces even after the cigarette is extinguished.
These chemicals linger for a long period of time and can be reabsorbed into the body if inhaled or ingested.
A recent study in the medical journal Pediatrics found that of the adults surveyed, the impact of third-hand smoke is less well-known than other smoking-related risks.
Since the term is so new, the researchers asked people if they agreed with the statement that “breathing air in a room today where people smoked yesterday can harm the health of infants and children.”
Only 65 percent of nonsmokers and 43 percent of smokers agreed with that statement.
Second-hand smoke is a combination of the smoke from a burning cigarette and the smoke exhaled by a smoker. Also known as environmental tobacco smoke, or ETS, it can be recognized easily by its distinctive odor. ETS contaminates the air and is retained in clothing, curtains and furniture.
Beyond being unpleasant, annoying and irritating to the eyes and nose, ETS represents a health hazard, having more than 4,000 identified chemicals. At least 43 of those chemicals cause cancer.
On average, children are exposed to more second-hand smoke than nonsmoking adults. Parents and caregivers must be aware that exposing children to any kind of tobacco smoke is dangerous to their health and could result in immediate health problems, like triggering an asthma attack.
Possible long-term effects are tooth decay and chronic ear infections that can lead to hearing loss if left untreated.
The following ways are recommended to help limit a child’s exposure to tobacco smoke:
■ First, and most importantly, if you do smoke, stop. Consult your physician for help, if needed. There are many new resources available to help you quit, from medications to support groups.
■ Consider a home/car smoking ban. Do not allow anyone to smoke anywhere in your home or at any time in your car. Studies have shown that parents who enforce a no-smoking ban at home are less likely to have teens who experiment with cigarettes.
■ If you used to allow regular smoking in your home, consider replacing low-cost items like throw pillows, area rugs and curtains. For items like couches and rugs, consider a thorough steam cleaning, which can help reduce the amount of dangerous particles, pollutants, and allergens that are trapped in their fibers.
ä Scrub down any yellow-stained walls and repaint in areas where heavy smoking has occurred.
Kids ENT Month was begun in 2003 by the American Academy of Otolaryngology _ Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS), and the organization seeks to advise parents and caregivers that ear, nose, and throat disorders remain among the primary reasons children and adolescents visit a physician.
For more information on kids’ ear, nose and throat health, visit the AAO-HNS website at www.entnet.org/kidsent.
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Dr. J. Paul Sweet, a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, is a member of the medical staff at A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital in Oneonta.