Smoking Parents Damage Children’s Health.

An article in the consumer affairs news June 2007 lays it on the line.

“Children who have at least one parent who smokes have 5.5 times higher levels of cotinine, a byproduct of nicotine, in their urine, according to a study by researchers from Warwick Medical School at the University of Warwick, and the University of Leicester, published online ahead of print in Archives of Disease in Childhood.

Having a mother that smokes was found to have the biggest independent effect on cotinine in the urine — quadrupling it. Having a smoking father doubled the amount of cotinine, one of chemicals produced when the body breaks down nicotine from inhaled smoke to get rid of it.

Sleeping with parents and lower temperature rooms were also associated with increased amounts of cotinine.

Cotinine was measured in 100 urine samples taken from infants aged 12 weeks. Seventy one of the babies had at least one parent that smoked and the parents of the other 33 were non-smokers.

“Smoking babies tend to come from poorer homes, which may have smaller rooms and inadequate heating,” the authors say. “Higher cotinine levels in colder times of year may be a reflection of the other key factors which influence exposure to passive smoking, such as poorer ventilation or a greater tendency for parents to smoke indoors in winter.”

Sleeping with a parent is a know risk factor for cot death and the authors suggest that one reason for this could be inhalation of, or closeness to clothing or other objects contaminated with, smoke particles during sleep.

Nearly 40% of under-fives are believed to be exposed to tobacco smoke at home, and smoke may be responsible for up to 6,000 deaths per year in young children.

“Babies and children are routinely exposed to cigarette smoking by their caregivers in their homes, without the legislative protection available to adults in public places,” according to the researchers.

But they acknowledge that there are practical difficulties in preventing smoking in private homes because it relies on parents or caregivers being educated about the harmful effects of passive smoking on their children and then acting on that knowledge.”

This article highlights a situation that is frustrating to the nth degree. The power of the tobacco lobby is disgusting as is the government’s complicity in this hideous waste of health and wealth.

We all know that smoking is bad for us but not enough noise is made about the damage done to children. One still sees children in cars with smoking adults polluting the air, one sees adult smoking at sports fixtures within inhaling distance. I know we live in a democratic society and this is a touchy subject and causes untold friction in families but smoking around children needs to stop.

Having been a smoker I know the self delusion that goes with the job.

It is on the same level as a heroin addict or an alcoholic. The person cannot see the danger they are in or the danger that their child is in.

There is more hope of stopping using a holistic approach. To get the smoker into that state of mind is the hardest part but family carers can play a part in providing healthy food and nutritional shakes  with activated zeolite drops added to them. It will benefit the whole family’s health as everyone has been posioned by the smoker. Use of Bach Remedies or Bush Flower Essences can also be helpful as they alter the emotional state on an energetic level.

Generally people who are toxic have much greater need of external stimulants. Cleansing the cells makes the body much more sensitive to pollutants and the need for toxic based stimulants decreases considerably.

It is extremely helpful to detox with activated liquid zeolite and follow up with the regular maintenance dose. Using a healthy range of nutritional support products increases the chances of a total “quit”.

If you would like a nutritional plan to work with along with your quit program contact:

The author of this article is Barbara Lockwood, a Bowen Therapies Practitioner and Holistic and Nutritional Supplements Advocate. Barbara has helped herself to escape the unpleasant prognosis of a wheel chair bound life to enjoy vibrant health end energy and likes helping others to have better health. To find out more regarding the Activated Liquid Zeolite or to order the alkaline/acid food chart or heavy metal test kit call 0402 204942 or got to www.barbshealthshop.com , Email: Zeolitequeen@optusnet.com.au