After Reading Dr.Jimmy's write up, I felt I should add this. My cousin, the late Patricia Henley(3), sued Phillip Morris and won the landmark case against the tobacco industry. During the discoveries it came to light that second hand smoke is also a contributing factor in SIDS.
Secondhand Smoke Causes SIDS
SIDS is the sudden, unexplained, unexpected death of an infant in the first year of life. SIDS is the leading cause of death in otherwise healthy infants. (5) Secondhand smoke increases the risk for SIDS. (1)
* Smoking by women during pregnancy increases the risk for SIDS. (6)
* Infants who are exposed to secondhand smoke after birth are also at greater risk for SIDS.(1)
* Chemicals in secondhand smoke appear to affect the brain in ways that interfere with its regulation of infants' breathing.(1)
* Infants who die from SIDS have higher concentrations of nicotine in their lungs and higher levels of cotinine (a biological marker for secondhand smoke exposure) than infants who die from other causes. (1)
Parents can help protect their babies from SIDS by taking the following three actions: (7)
* Do not smoke when pregnant. (6)
* Do not smoke in the home or around the baby.
* Put the baby down to sleep on its back.
Secondhand Smoke and Children
Secondhand smoke can cause serious health problems in children.(8)
* Studies show that older children whose parents smoke get sick more often. Their lungs grow less than children who do not breathe secondhand smoke, and they get more bronchitis and pneumonia.
* Wheezing and coughing are more common in children who breathe secondhand smoke.
* Secondhand smoke can trigger an asthma attack in a child. Children with asthma who are around secondhand smoke have more severe and frequent asthma attacks. A severe asthma attack can put a child's life in danger.
* Children whose parents smoke around them get more ear infections. They also have fluid in their ears more often and have more operations to put in ear tubes for drainage.
Parents can help protect their children from secondhand smoke by taking the following actions:(8)
* Do not allow anyone to smoke near your child.
* Do not smoke or allow others to smoke in your home or car. Opening a window does not protect your children from smoke.
* Use a smoke-free day care center.
* Do not take your child to restaurants or other indoor public places that allow smoking.
* Teach children to stay away from secondhand smoke.
References:
(1) http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/sgr/2006/index.htm
(2) http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12649
(3) http://www.independent.com/news/2009/sep/27/patricia-henley-won-landmark-judgments-against-tob/
(4)http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/secondhand_smoke/health_effects/
(5) http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/pediatrics;116/5/1245
(6) http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/sgr/2004/index.htm
(7) http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/safe_sleep_gen.cfm
(8) http://www.netwellness.org/feature/2006-11-smoke/default.cfm