According to the American Heart Association, there are an estimated 49 million adult men and women that are smokers today in the United States. These people are at high risk and have the knowledge that the act of smoking cigarettes may cause different types of cancers, may develop heart disease, cause high blood pressure, and cause strokes to name a few. Although, what one may not realize is the harmful effects that the cigarette smoke may have on another individual that does not smoke. Passive or second-hand smoke is worse than the actual act of smoking. The chemicals from the tobacco smoke after being inhaled and then exhaled are very poisonous. Passive or second-hand smoke is especially harmful to children. More than 10 million children are still being put in jeopardy to exposure of cigarette smoke in their homes everyday, despite study after study showing how dangerous it is to their health (http://ash.org/kids/parents.html ). .
The effects on children's health due to cigarette smoke are numerous and can become more severe with time. Children that are open to the elements of cigarette smoke tend to suffer excessive and unnecessary colds, flues, bronchitis, pneumonia, and ear infections during times of the year when the immune system is down due to allergies. Asthma attacks, wheezing, coughing, lung or breathing problems, and acute respiratory infections can also be triggered or worsen for children when being around or coming into contact with cigarette smoke according to several different studies. Symptoms may also persist or last longer for children that already have any of these conditions. Children also tend to miss an excessive amount of days from school due to the exposure to cigarette smoke more than children who are not exposed. Children's activities may also be limited due to the effects of the second-hand or passive smoke for example running around the track, being too active on the playground may cause loss of breath, and going to a friends house because of the exposure from the friends parents cigarette smoke.
