Children of parents who smoke are hospitalized more frequently for bronchitis and pneumonia during their first year of life and have more acute respiratory illnesses before the age of two. They also have more coughs and phlegm and may develop more chronic ear infections. Babies born to moms who smoke tend to have lower birth weights than those of nonsmoking mothers. Smoking also increases the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth or infant death shortly after birth. Smoking also has short-term effects on the body, including bad breath, coughing, wheezing and sputum production which may lead to respiratory infection which can cause permanent lung tissue damage.
Smoking is particularly dangerous in an adolescent.
It may cause retardation in the development of a teenager's lungs, which will then never fully attain normal development and function. While it is difficult to quit smoking, it's worth the work. In addition to nicotine patches, there are medications available now that may help smokers reduce their cigarette cravings. Smokers should talk to their doctors to see if these medications are right for them. Smokers need to realize that smoking not only affects their health, but also the health and well-being of those they love.