Children Help Parents to Quit Smoking

Most regular smokers used to smoke cigarettes in the house when their children were infants. That was before they learned more about secondhand smoke. Anti-smoking advertisements and anti-smoking cessation programs helped smokers to know more about smoking damages. At this cessation programs, smokers were asked about the reasons why they should quit.

Panetta, a 52-year-old regular smoker from Troy, said: "On the first day, they ask you to write down as many reasons as you can think of to quit smoking. My children were the second reason. The first was my father died of lung cancer at 50." Smokers living with kids are 76 percent more likely to try to quit, according to a survey by the New York state Department of Health. Experts said that the health risks to others can be a greater reason for smokers to quit than the dangers it poses to them. "People who won't quit smoking for themselves are generally more likely to quit smoking for their children," said Dr. Richard Daines, the health commissioner.

Dr. Daines added that children play the main role in the decision, because as soon as a smoker got education on secondhand smoke they understand that kids are the most affected by smoking. Scientists found that among New York's approximately 2.7 million smokers, about 1 million live with children in the household.

Parents who smoke around their kids may contribute to health problems like respiratory infections, ear infections, bronchitis, and pneumonia, Daines reported. But in a recent study was showed that 76 percent of smokers with children tried to quit smoking because of the effect of smoke on others. The study also found that 42 percent of smokers with children don't allow smoking in their home, compared with 26 percent of smokers without children.

The study also found that 60 percent of people living with children are more likely to want to quit smoking. An ex-smoker said: "If you're going to smoke, you want to kill yourself, fine. Try not to kill your children."