Athyna,

Wow A little sensitive about the subject huh!

Look the science is extremely clear smokers children have higher rates of ear infections, bronchial problems, asthma, lung cancer, etc. If you expose your children to poison they get sick more, really simple.

If you are a "responsible smoker" good for you but most, or at least many, are not and the numbers show it!

I was a smoker for 30 years. IT IS EVIL AS HELL ITSELF. The most self indulgent, hideous act, Cost me about one cool million dollars, in wasted time, money, sickness. At 5 dollars a pack, 10 dollars a day, who the hell are you kidding. Quit the slow suicide, or do it fast chicken-lady.

Safe to presume published statistics will prove more verifiable than first-hand experience? Safe to presume that despite all the warnings, not every predicted calamity comes true? Safe to presume that such presumptions are of themselves safe?

jensen,

It is evil as hell itself?! "The most self indulgent, hideous act,...". Are you serious?

I'll bet you drink like most people. You want evil? I'll give you evil - booze. Look into what booze does to people's health, wealth and well-being. Look at all the costs (ALL) of booze. Look at all the mental and health issues of booze and not just those that drink but family members also. Look at the toll it takes on this society.

Smoking is evil as hell itself - give me a break. You sound like a politically-corrected parrot. Mouth the words but be blind to reality.

And by the way, I never said that smoking is good for you but people are too stupid to compare smoking with alcohol and come up with just which is worse in terms of money and health issues. Just the leagl side of alcohol costs more then the medical side of smoking.

Wow A little sensitive about the subject huh!

Probably. I've smoked for over 25 years. I didn't mind when things changed, when smoking indoors was suddenly verbotten. Really, I didn't. You don't want smoke around you? Fine. Your sense of smell is so sensitive that smoke makes you nauseous? No problem. I smoked outdoors before it was cool!... or whatever. I'm just tired of being demonized.

Go back in history. Cigarettes didn't always contain arsenic and other crap. Thank the corporations for that. Cigarettes weren't always more addictive than heroin. Again with the corporations. They're the ones that added over two hundred chemicals for the sole purpose of ensuring their customer base wouldn't up and quit.

I do what I can. My boys don't have asthma or recurrent ear infections or any smoking related problem. There was a time when smoking wasn't a habit so much, but more of a once-in-a-while treat, like sodas should be. People didn't become addicted. We didn't need medications to fight the addiction at the cost of causing a complete psychological breakdown and suicide (google side-effects of Chantix).

So sue me for wanting things like they were before I was the devil killing you from a distance.

Athyna is not the only parent whose child had ear infections. Nor the only parent who smoked. So settle in folks, there's another rant coming.

I was a single parent --my husband died when my daughter was 8 months old-- who was fortunate enough to be able to arrange my life so my daughter was in daycare rarely. There goes the excuse 'it had to be from daycare'.

And yes my daughter suffered from horrid ear, nose and throat problems. I was very fortunate to find a family doctor who was a straight-shooter and who possessed a ton of common sense. He did not hem and haw, make excuses, or try to sugar-coat anything. My smoking was making my daughter sick. If I'd used common sense I wouldn't have needed to be told that. It took years for her to heal. And I wonder if she ever did. As an adult she suffers from terrible allergies and sensitivities.

I had a vet tell me when he was in medical school and autopsies were done, they always knew which dogs and cats lived with smokers. Their lungs were just are dark and damaged as the smokers.

btw The comment that alcohol is evil is just plain wrong. Alcohol, in moderation, has health benefits. My mother's doctor had her on a regimen of vodka with her lunch and wine with supper. She lived to be over a hundred years old. My standard remedy for any and all bugs is a toddy made with a cinnamon stick, fresh lemon juice, honey and Irish whiskey.

"The findings come from a combination of 61 past studies."

Nobody's going to say smoking is great for your health and that's why it's ok to cherrypick your data - I could prove looking at water causes cancer. What were these mothers doing; shoving the smokes in the kids' ears? Poor children were fatherless too.

For all you smokers...I am sure all of your children will Thank You for smoking all your life when they are watching you die painfully of emphysema or lung cancer. If you want to kill yourselves that badly do it with pills or a gun...it is a lot quicker. I lived it and as much as I loved my Mom and my Grandmother I will always hate the part of them that was so weak that they started and continued to smoke all of their lives.

Smokers are commiting child abuse. Take away their children and put the smokers in prison.

IMHO, It's the tobacco companies and farmers that are evil.

Selling a product they know has the potential to make people addicts, make them sick and even kill them.

Yea, I know it's legal and all, but like one guy said, having the right to do something is not the same thing as being right in doing it.

But hey, profits over ethics and morals, right?

Athyna ear infections are NOT contagious. The cold virus which sometimes causes infections are, but the bacteria the infect the middle ear are not. So your child sitting next to a child with an ear infection would at worst catch a cold that the child might have had. And, even then, just because your child caught the cold the developed into an ear infection in the first child, doesn't mean that it will develop into an ear infection in your child. And if you're certain your smoking had nothting to do with it, then it was probably underdeveloped Eustachian tubes.

Athyna, if you raise your kids in a sterile environment they are SURE to get very ill when finally exposed to the planet! The decrease in the number of smokers has increased the incidence of chilhood asthma by 500%. Coincidence? NOT. This article states that there is NO proof that smoking causes ear infections. DID YOU MISS THAT???

My best friend and I got pregnant at around the same time. She smoked through her pregnancy; I quit. She smokes (and drinks) around her kids. I still don't smoke and I've never been a drinker. She lets hers watch TV; I don't. I tend to obsess over medical and parenting advice; she just lives her life and doesn't stress about it.

Now that all is said and done, her son never got sick at all until he was around 5, has been reading since he was three years old, and can work their TV and DVD player. My daughter was sick constantly with ear infections, shows no interest in reading, is very small for her age, and is stymied by our remote control. So, studies may show one thing, but following all parenting advice to a "T" doesn't guarantee anything. It might be that kids in those studies whose parents smoked also were lower income, lived in unhealthier circumstances, etc. Researchers are only human, and can't account for EVERY variable in a child's life.

Jack-2510943, did YOU miss the part that they say there is no evidence? Smokers are not committing child abuse, but people who would take away parental rights for crimes that do not exist should pay a hefty price, and the people who put this crud out at the expense of freedom should be also, maybe even treason!

TJHarris-1267304: Look how many famous people smoked and died of old age. In fact, most of the world's oldest people are, or were smokers. It's true, the person who lived longer (122 yrs) than anyone else in the world to date, Jeanne Louise Calment, smoked her entire life as did many others. One only has to look at the campaign against healthy raw milk vs. pasteurization which kills all health benefits, or the global warming scam called ClimateGate. All are based on Junk Science, yet still quoted by many as valid research. Of COURSE anti-smokers want a smoking ban and favor taxes foisted on some another segment of the population! It's a form of legal BULLYING! Of COURSE anti-smokers don't care that business owners lose their private property rights and citizens lose their for their own preference, it's another form of legal bullying! Of COURSE, they're BULLIES! There's a national crusade AGAINST bullying, but it all starts with government intrusion into our lives and businesses! Nuisance laws and taxes (those made in the interest of corporate profit) take away everything that we hold dear: Private property rights, Parental rights, Privacy rights, Equal rights, Labor rights, etc. STOP THE BULLYING!

There are examples of outliers in every survey. As I said I was speaking from my experience. If you and other smokers want to inflict that on your children, go for it. It is your self-centered choice because you are too weak to control you addiction.

Nobody is "bullying" smokers. If you want to smoke...go for it, it is your choice and I could care less how you choose to live or die. I, however have the same right NOT to breathe in your stench. Restaurants in both WI and MN have been smoke free for 2-3 years...business has not suffered from it. Some have suffered from the economy but so has every business. The last person who tried to light up in my care was given a choice put it away or walk...we were 40 miles from the nearest exit. They were told ahead of time when they chose to ride with me that there is no smoking in my car, they didn't want to drive. Same goes for my home, we do not own any ashtrays for a reason.

That would be light up in my car...

Klm,

Extremely well said!

Very well said.

This information was out big time in 1987. All my kids had recurrent ear infections and the pediatrician yelled at me (the only smoker in the house) and gave me info. I stopped smoking and their health greatly improved.

WRONG! Kids of smokers are more likely to smoke? I've got news for you, sweetie. Just because YOU were so easily influenced does NOT mean that all the children of smokers are.

I'm sorry if I seem hostile, but that assumption just pisses me off. My dad smokes, but I'm 21 and have NEVER lit up, and never will.

However, I do agree that you should smoke outside away from your chidren.

@Isis,

Calm down. No one is saying all children of smokers become smokers, but there is evidence that the child of a smoker is more likely to become one. There is also evidence that the child of someone with alcoholism has higher chances of becoming an alcoholic. Or that the child of a schizophrenic has an elevated risk of schizophrenia. It doesn't mean it happens to them all, just that there are more risks involved. Good for you that you never smoked, many children of smokers are not so lucky.

I am a smoker! When my son was young (say 6 or 7) he was constantly getting sick. I took him to the doctor who examined him and then asked me if I smoked, to which I answered, "yes". He asked, "Do you smoke in the house?" Answer, "Yes". "Stop smoking in the house immediately", I was told. BUT... It wasn't just smoking. He also had me get rid of the down feather pillows and the cotton sheets.

I haven't smoked in the house (or indoors at all) since. My sons health dramatically improved once I stopped smoking inside and got him different pillows and sheets.

Kim,

A decrease in the number of smokers has increased the incidence of chilhood asthma by 500%. The revelation that tobacco is good for you has been reported in non-mainstream media: An Owensboro bioprocessing group is working on a vaccine for the human papillomavirus that’s made with tobacco protein. Smoking lowers Parkinson’s disease risk associated with non-smoking, protects against Alzheimer’s Disease and ulcerative Colitis. Children of mothers who smoke 15 cigarettes a day tend to have lower odds for suffering from allergic rhino-conjunctivitis, allergic asthma, atopic eczema, food allergy, compared to children of mothers who never smoked. Kids of smokers have LOWER asthma! ‘Villain’ nicotine slays TB. Carbon Monoxide May Alleviate Heart Attacks And Stroke, carbon monoxide's a by-product of tobacco smoke. Smoking Prevents Rare Skin Cancer, reduces The Risk Of Breast Cancer. Tourette’s Syndrome, schizophrenia and cocaine addiction are disorders that are alleviated by tobacco. Big pharma knows all of this, it’s all about wiping out the competition and money! And they depend on people like you to drink the Kool Aid.

The alcoholism comment pisses me off as well. My dad had an alcohol problem, yet I have NEVER took a drink of alcohol. This "more likely" thing....yeah, I don't care about the so called evidence, because I'm not going to let all these "studies" and "evidences" influence my choices.

This is just ANOTHER ploy by the anti smoking industry to bash smokers, and make them look like second class citizens.

And you all have GOT to admit, that is a presumptuous assumption for Kim to make.

@Calvin, I wouldn't have let the doctor talk to you like that, as ultimately it's YOUR choice whether you smoke inside or not. My dad has smoked inside probably since I was a toddler, and I turned out fine. No ear infections, no breathing problems....so much for this study.

Chesty,

Sadly we don't have any data on this because the US Government has a prohibition on scientific studies on Marijuana.

EVERY person you know who smoked in the presence of their kids has kids with ear problems???? Really? We had eight kids in our family and both parents smoked, yet none of us ever had an ear infection. Please stop the hyperbole.

Maybe the question that people should be asking themselves is, "WHY are today's kids getting so many ear infections and why do so many suffer from asthma? What has changed in the past 5-6 decades to dramatically affect the health of our children? It can't be smoking because that has decreased. I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that it's additives/toxins in food and/or new toxins in our environment.

traci,

"The point of the article was that these smokers are smoking in the presence of the kids, thereby causing the problem. EVERY person I know who smoked in the presence of their kids had kids with ear problems."

Every child? Every stinking one of them?!! Give me a break. That sounds like paranoia on your part.

I know parents who never smoked and their kids had ear infections. What does that say for stupid studies?

How about doing a study on parents who drink in front of their kids? See what kind of issues (both mental and physical) THEY have. Then see if a lilttle ear infection stacks up against those childrens problems.

EVERY non-smoker I know had kids with ear infections! In fact, every parent I ever knew had a kid with an ear infection. It's called growing up, something anti-smokers will never do, they're too biased to be able to.

Ear infections among baby boomers were common. I know, since I was one of the kids with an infection every couple of months. My parents both smoked. We have more asthma being treated than ever before.

It isn't a witch hunt. It is a study. The good news is that smokers really don't run us a dime more in overall expense. Sure, their healthcare is high, but they die so quick. They save us tons.

You had the ear infections when you were young, all 5, it of us a constant problem till about age 5 or 6 when your tubes get bigger and drain better. One sister almost died from complications. Without antibiotics none of us would have lived to the age of 2.

buffaloroams (more like buffalo chips),

"I know, since I was one of the kids with an infection every couple of months."

Perhaps you were just a sickly, genetically deficient little kid.

"The good news is that smokers really don't run us a dime more in overall expense. Sure, their healthcare is high, but they die so quick. They save us tons."

You're happy people die quickly? Regardless of cause, people dying is never good news. Perhaps it's time someone does a study on the stupidity of little kids who grow up with ear infections.

So you think these little studies are relevant to life? How about the study that proved normal intercourse was a leading cause in vaginal cancer? I'll bet you would completely believe that one because, after all, it IS a study.

You entirely missed the point. People who deny that smoking does harm are dying in droves. It is harmful. That is all there is to it. I have two dead parents and four dead uncles to prove it. All smokers, all emphysema and lung cancer. They were coughing up black junk. I don't need any study to prove it.

re:introuble

A legitimate medical study is not "fact" but your childhood memories are? You are delusional. And if you live your life making decisions based on what you've described here, YOU are in trouble!

buff,

Didn't miss any point at all. Genetics play a more important role in deaths of family members then you or others think. You simply can not blame it all on smoking if your thinking is not controlled by being politically correct as is often the case today.

When YOU were in school, kids with serious health issues either couldn't attend school OR they died before you ever knew about it. You aren't an expert on this just because you only knew of one kid in your high school class.
Second hand smoke around children is abusive, unhealthful, and should never be defended.

Hysterical paranoia around children is abusive, unhealthful, and should never be defended.

Ditto. Both of my parents smoked indiscriminately when I was a child. They had friends over who smoked. Their family smoked. My brother and I were CONSTANTLY around smokers, and my brother and I CONSTANTLY had ear infections and sore throats. I remember one ear infection in particular that was so painful, I spent the night vomiting from the pain. These ear infections continued until I was 16. What happened at 16? I moved out and found a roommate who didn't smoke.

It should be noted I haven't had an ear infection since.

This is a very real issue and in my opinion, parents who smoke around their children should be arrested for child abuse.

There are plenty of studies that cite alternate reasons for the increase in asthma and ear infections. There is no doubt that the rate of asthma and ear infections increased significantly from the mid-1970's to the mid-1990's, a period of time in which the smoking rates dropped dramatically in comparison to previous decades. The increased rate of asthma and ear infections has an inverse relationship with exposure to second-hand smoke.

In other words, the more people quit smoking - and the early 70's is when the push to quit smoking gained ground - the higher the rate of asthma and ear infections in children rose.

In other words, the more people quit smoking - and the early 70's is when the push to quit smoking gained ground - the higher the rate of asthma and ear infections in children rose.

Anyone care to try refuting this logic? Because I can't, it makes sense.

Could have sworn it was San Andreas fault...

Hard to deny that.

Yeah, and while my father only smoked for twentyfour years and quit nearly forty years ago, he now suffers from mild COPD. So, your seemingly healthy and harmless smoking habit can come back many years later and bite you in the butt.

@amikino

Looloo did not say her smoking habit was healthy or harmless. As a matter of fact, let me reiterate:

I'm not discounting that smoking is an unhealthy, dirty habit, but I believe that there's more involved than just smoking such as genetics and exposure to other toxins.

I am a smoker. I am very mindful of non-smokers, and obey the smoking laws. I don't really appreciate constantly being talked down to from non-smokers, who are thoroughly convinced I have no idea what I am doing to my body or insist on judging me because of it. We are all aware of the risks we are putting ourselves through. Please learn some social etiquette.

The elite PC crowd refuses to believe your anecdote. The elite PC crowd just wants you to obey their directives.

They want to suck smoke into their lungs because it is a drug delivery system. They are doing nothing more than maintaining a drug addiction. If a drug was not involved, quitting the smoking habit would be easy. Anyone who has smoked will tell you it is difficult to stop. Like any other drug addict, the person must have an uncomfortable withdrawal from their drug. And when smokers liken smoking to food consumption: you can live without smoking, you can't live without eating.

Despite the fact that most of you are fat because of food addictions? When the "addicted" bunch pontificates, that's hypocrisy in action.

Comedian Bob Newhart had a skit in the 60's in which he lampoons smoking. In it, he is Sir Walter Raleigh, phoning someone to tell him about a New World plant called tobacco, saying that you roll it up, stick it in your mouth, and set it on fire. Smoking is a serious issue, but his funny skit can be seen on You Tube. Look up "Bob Newhart Smoking Skit".

Oops, sorry. Newhart is getting a call FROM Sir Walter Raleigh.

We have changed it. Substantially. But thanks for the comment.

I don't think many people have 10000 calorie meals. Smokers die so early, they save money. Not the way we want to do it.

That said, there are at least as many articles aimed at fatties...and the cover of every single women's magazine.

When a person eats 10,000 calories, you are not forced to consume those calories with them. When you smoke near me, I must consume your smoke. Your argument is specious.

amikino, wake up. The social engineers -- the same kind who write this kind of bunk for a study -- have already written studies that do say what you eat has secondhand effects. Eating a greasy hamburger in public entices others to do the same. If your friends are fat your chances increase that you'll be fat too. You people want to keep believing that it's about smoking when all indications are that this scientific agenda is about control. It doesn't stop at smoking. Your acceptance of junk science for one that satisfies your bias puts everyone at risk for control by the nanny state over everything else.