Smoking hurts children

We've heard the dangers of smoking for many years; still people continue to light up, demonstrating to their children that unhealthy living is acceptable. More recently, we have been educated about the extreme danger of secondhand smoke; yet again, the message falls on reluctant ears.

Secondhand smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals; lead, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and more. Many of these chemicals are known to cause heart and lung disease and, of course, cancer. Yet, people continue to smoke.

Secondhand smoke increases the likelihood of children having more health problems than others, such as asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and ear infections. Smokers' children get sick more often, which translates into more time off work, more co-pays and higher premiums.

Secondhand smoke causes more than 9,000 premature births in the U.S. each year, and is linked to low birth weight, still births, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Yet, people continue to disregard the health of their children and light up.

If we truly wished the best for our children, we'd show them that their health as well as our own was our highest priority. We'd demonstrate that their future and future education was something we were willing to put effort into. A pack-a-day habit can cost up to $1,500 a year; saving that money in a college fund with a 6-percent annual return would add up to $28,000 over 15 years. You could be blowing your children's education up in smoke. Is any of it really worth being a slave to a substance?

CINDY AASE

Sagle