Unintentional harm from passive smoking for young children

(Passive smoking) - Passive smoking can cause long-term damage to a child's arteries, causing blood vessels to age 3 years earlier than normal, the scientists said.

The lesions manifested by the promotion of vascular wall thickening mean an increase in heart attacks and strokes in later life, according to the latest report in European Heart magazine.

A study of more than 2,000 children aged 3 to 18 years showed that they were at higher risk of being affected if both parents smoked. According to experts, there is no safety guarantee for children exposed to cigarette smoke.

The study went deeper into the problem and pointed out that indirect smoking (or passive smoking) can cause permanent damage to a child's arteries, thereby increasing the risk of getting Cardiovascular disease as an adult.

Another study conducted in Finland and Australia also found that physical effects seem to become stronger under a smoke-filled home.

The ultrasound method also shows that children with smoking parents have different changes in the development of the main arteries (from the neck to the head).

The researchers said the difference between the inner and middle membranes in children is not significant, but it is very important and meaningful to treat when children reach adulthood about 20 years later. this.

The author of the study, Dr. Seana Gall from the University of Tasmania, said: 'Our study shows that exposure to secondhand smoke or in other words, passive smoking during childhood can cause direct, irreversible damage to arterial structure '.

'Parents, or even thinkers, will become parents so quit smoking as soon as possible. That not only helps improve their own health but also protects their children's health in the future. '

However, if only one parent is smoking, the degree of influence is not obvious, because exposure is negligible.

Dr Gall said: ' Although parents can smoke in a place far away from home, thus contributing to reducing their ability to smoke indirectly. However, we do not have reliable data on this yet, so it is still a hypothesis'.

Experts recommend: all children need protection from exposure to smoke.

Second-hand smoke can remain in the air for up to 2.5 hours, even in open window conditions, it persists even if you can't see or smell it.

Smoke contains more than 4,000 toxic chemicals, some of which are known as carcinogens.

Children who breathe in second-hand smoke are at higher risk of asthma and colds as well as meningitis and ear infections.

If you are a smoker, the most effective thing you can do to protect your child is to give it up. If you can't get rid of it, then you have to prepare another habitat to keep your children from the effects of smoke.

In fact, arterial problems can also be caused by other factors such as diet or air pollution. However, smoking in a narrow space with the presence of children should be limited and terminated to prevent potential health risks to children later on.