As you stand in line at the pharmacy picking up the prescription for ADD medication for your eight-year old child, your mind wanders back to the conversation you had with his doctor.

"Did Johnny have recurring ear infections as a child?"

"Yes"

"Did he have respiratory infections as well?"

"Yes"

"Ma'am, does anyone in your household smoke?"

"I do, why? Is that somehow related?"

"Unfortunately, ma'am, studies have shown a connection between secondhand smoke and all of these issues"

Too stunned to really hear much more of the conversation, you walk out of that office holding a prescription for your now-hyperactive son wondering if you are responsible for his issues.

Don't let this happen to you! Become educated to the hazardous effects of secondhand smoke on children, then stop smoking before the little one in your house becomes nicotine's latest little victim.

The Effects of Cigarette Smoke on Children:

One of the most frequently affected areas in the bodies of children whose parents smoke is the lungs. Sadly, these children are more prone to everything from sinus infections to much more serious chronic respiratory problems. Moreover, these children are more prone to bronchitis and even pneumonia. So, if you won't use a cure stop smoking for yourself, then do it for your little one's respiratory health.

Secondhand smoke doesn't just affect their little lungs. It has also been connected to chronic ear infections. For those of us who have gone through endless sleepless nights with a crying child, multiple rounds of antibiotics, steroids and tubes, ear infections are the stuff of nightmares. All children are susceptible to ear infections in the first eighteen months, but those who breathe in secondhand hand have an even greater risk of chronic ear infections, which may lead to hearing loss.

Finally, children of smokers, particularly mothers who smoked while pregnant have a much greater likelihood of experiencing a non-verbal learning disability like hyperactivity. If not than, then a potential learning disability connected to the same exposure to smoke. If you have children, or want to have children consider the risks of secondhand smoke. For their sake, if not yours, talk to your doctor about medication, for example Chantix and stop smoking before it is their health or their brain that suffers.

There are many stop smoking solutions like for example Chantix, a stop smoking aid from Pfizer, recently approved by the FDA. It acts on the same areas in the brain as nicotine by provide similar stimuli. The effect of this is to reduce the horrid withdrawal symptoms. It also blocks nicotine, should the smoker start back to old habits. Isn't it time to ask yourself whether you would rather stand in a pharmacy for a prescription for hyperactivity medication or stand there for a stop smoking aid like Chantix potentially preventing such health and educational risks for your son or daughter?