General Health News
Secondhand Smoke Leads to Increased ADHD, Disability Risks
By: Staff Writer | Wednesday 13 July 2011 09:00 PDT
Secondhand Smoke Leads to Increased ADHD, Disability Risks
Two recent studies conducted by the American Academy of Pediatrics revealed that exposure to secondhand smoke can increase several mental and physical risks among children.
One study discovered that secondhand smoke exposure increased the risk of children developing two or more childhood neurobehavioral disorders by 50 percent over children without exposure.
Researchers involved with the study analyzed data recorded in 2007 by the CDC and National Center for Health Statistics. The researchers found that nearly 5 million children under the age of 12 are exposed to secondhand smoke within their homes, and up to 8 percent suffer from learning disabilities, such as ADHD and other behavioral disorders.
"[The findings] underscore the health burden of childhood neurobehavioral disorders that may be attributable to secondhand smoke exposure in homes in the States," the study authors concluded."
The study might help some parents quit smoking, as the annual medical cost for a child with neurobehavioral disorder is more than $14,500 per year.
The second study provided a little more peace of mind for the demographic. The report revealed that a significant number of children between the ages of eight and 13 living in a household with at least one smoker described the smell as "unpleasant" and "gross," and were 78 percent less likely to smoke than those with a more passive reaction to the smell.
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