What Are the Hazards of Babies Being Exposed to Secondhand Smoke? How to Cope with It?

The hazards of secondhand smoke are even greater than the hazards of smoking directly. Children who are frequently exposed to secondhand smoke may suffer from lowered IQ and anorexia. It is recommended that parents create a smoke-free home environment to protect their children from secondhand smoke. If a child contracts a disease due to exposure to secondhand smoke, parents should promptly seek medical attention.

1. Lowered IQ: If there are smokers in the family, children will be constantly exposed to secondhand smoke. Over time, the level of toxins in the air will significantly increase. This can affect the child's brain neurons and have a significant negative impact on their intellectual development. According to recent studies, children who are chronically exposed to this environment may have IQs that are approximately two points lower than their peers, and in severe cases, it can even lead to dementia.

2. Anorexia: Smokers often experience a lack of appetite and do not feel like eating. This is due to the toxins in tobacco affecting their gastrointestinal cells. These toxins are also present in secondhand smoke. When they enter a child's body, they may cause the child to lose interest in eating and refuse food.

1. Create a Smoke-Free Home Environment: For the healthy growth of their children, parents should make every effort to create a clean and smoke-free home environment. No matter where they are, as long as their children are present, parents should refrain from smoking. Quitting smoking is a difficult process, but parents should persevere and not give up halfway. If parents have a strong nicotine addiction and must smoke, they should avoid doing it in the presence of their children and smoke outdoors instead. Creating a smoke-free home environment is the responsibility of parents. Additionally, smoking is harmful to health, so quitting smoking will also benefit parents' health.

2. Avoid Exposing Children to Secondhand Smoke: When parents take their children outdoors and find someone smoking nearby, they should immediately take their children away to avoid exposure to secondhand smoke. If parents and their children happen to encounter someone smoking on a bus, they should immediately open the windows to ventilate and reduce the concentration of harmful substances in the air, minimizing the harm of secondhand smoke to the child's health. Alternatively, they can kindly remind others not to smoke in public places to maintain civilized behavior.