2.1. Explain the effects that smoking can have on the health of the: • smoker • child/children • other adults in the family

This guide will help you answer 2.1. Explain the effects that smoking can have on the health of the: • smoker • child/children • other adults in the family.

Effects of Smoking on the Smoker

Smoking has many harmful effects on the person who smokes. The chemicals in cigarettes damage the body over time. These effects can begin within months of starting smoking and can last a lifetime.

Damage to the Lungs

Smoking causes the lungs to become less able to take in oxygen. Tar from cigarettes builds up inside the lungs. This can lead to breathing problems such as:

• Chronic cough
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing

Smoking is a major cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is a long-term illness that affects breathing. It includes conditions like chronic bronchitis and emphysema. These diseases cannot be cured and often get worse with time.

Risk of Cancer

Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer. It can also cause cancers of the mouth, throat, oesophagus, bladder, pancreas and kidneys. The chemicals in tobacco damage cells and cause them to grow in an uncontrolled way.

Impact on the Heart

Smoking raises the risk of heart disease and stroke. Nicotine makes the heart beat faster and raises blood pressure. It damages the blood vessels which can lead to them becoming blocked. This can result in heart attacks and other serious problems.

Effect on the Immune System

The immune system protects the body from illness. Smoking weakens this system. This means the smoker can get ill more often and may take longer to recover.

Other Health Problems

Smoking can cause:

• Reduced fertility in men and women
• Gum disease and tooth loss
• Wounds that heal slowly
• Increased risk of type 2 diabetes

Physical Appearance

The chemicals in cigarettes speed up ageing of the skin. Smokers may develop wrinkles earlier. Teeth can turn yellow and fingernails may become stained. Hair can lose its shine and strength.

Effects of Smoking on Children

Children can be harmed by smoking even if they do not smoke themselves. Being exposed to other people’s smoke is called passive smoking. This happens when a child breathes in smoke from someone nearby.

Breathing and Lung Health

Second-hand smoke damages a child’s lungs as they are still developing. It can make breathing harder and lower lung capacity. Passive smoking increases the risk of asthma and can trigger attacks in children who already have asthma.

Children exposed to smoke are more likely to get chest infections like bronchitis and pneumonia. They may cough more often and make wheezing sounds when breathing.

Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

If babies are exposed to smoke in the home or during pregnancy, the risk of SIDS increases. SIDS is the sudden and unexplained death of a baby.

Ear Problems

Smoke exposure can lead to fluid building up in the middle ear. This can cause ear infections and hearing problems.

Development and Learning

Children who are often around smoking may be more likely to miss school because of illness. This can affect learning and social skills.

Long-term Health Effects

Repeated exposure to smoke makes a child more likely to develop health problems later in life. They are at greater risk of lung cancer, heart disease and breathing disorders as adults. There is also evidence that children living with smokers may be more likely to start smoking themselves.

Effects of Smoking on Other Adults in the Family

Adults who live with smokers can suffer negative health effects even if they do not smoke themselves.

Exposure to Second-hand Smoke

Breathing in smoke from someone else’s cigarette is harmful. Non-smokers who live with smokers have an increased risk of developing:

• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Lung cancer
• Breathing problems like asthma or COPD

Impact on Pre-existing Conditions

If an adult already has a breathing problem or heart disease, smoke exposure can make their condition worse. It can lead to more frequent hospital visits and more medication use.

Pregnancy

Smoking near pregnant women can harm both the mother and her unborn baby. It raises the risk of miscarriage, premature birth and low birth weight. Babies born too small or too early can face more health problems.

Mental and Emotional Effects

Adults living in a home with smoking may feel stressed or frustrated. They may worry about their own health or the health of their children. This can affect relationships in the family.

Financial Effects Across the Family

Smoking can cost a lot of money over time. The more someone smokes, the more they spend. This can mean less money for food, clothing, bills or activities. Health problems caused by smoking can lead to extra costs for medicine, hospital visits and lost work time.

Environmental Effects in the Home

Smoke from cigarettes does not just disappear. It lingers in the air, carpets, curtains and furniture. This is called third-hand smoke. It still contains harmful chemicals and can be breathed in or touched. Children may get these chemicals on their hands and then put their hands in their mouth.

The smell of stale smoke can be unpleasant. It can make visitors feel uncomfortable. It may also lower the value of a home if the owner wants to sell.

Role of the Worker in Supporting Families

As someone working in early years or playwork, it is part of the role to share clear information with parents and carers. This can help them understand the risks of smoking to all family members. Workers can:

• Offer leaflets and posters about the dangers of smoking
• Provide details of local stop-smoking services
• Encourage smoke-free homes and cars
• Raise awareness gently and respectfully

When discussing smoking, it is important to avoid judgement. The focus needs to be on the safety and health of children and the whole family.

How Smoke Travels

Understanding the way smoke moves through the environment helps explain why it affects others. Smoke can pass through open spaces, doors and windows. It can move from one room to another. Even smoking outside near open doors or windows can let smoke drift indoors.

The size of the space, number of cigarettes smoked, and time spent smoking all affect how much smoke others breathe in.

Long-term Impact on Families

The health effects of smoking can last for years. Damage to lungs and the heart can mean illness well into adulthood. In families where smoking is common, younger members may copy the behaviour they see. This can lead to cycles of ill health across generations.

Setting a smoke-free example in the home can break this pattern. It can give children a healthier start in life and reduce risks for everyone.

Reducing Harm

Stopping smoking is the best way to protect health. Cutting down does reduce exposure, but there is still harm from every cigarette. Using nicotine replacement products as part of a stop-smoking plan can help.

Creating smoke-free spaces works as another protective measure:

• No smoking inside the home
• No smoking in cars, especially with children present
• Moving far away from doors and windows when smoking outside

Final Thoughts

Smoking harms not only the smoker but everyone around them. The damage can begin quickly and continue for many years. In homes with children, the risks are higher as their bodies are still growing and developing. Other adults can suffer too, through increased illness, stress and reduced quality of life.

For those working in early years or playwork, having clear and up-to-date information about the effects of smoking is important. It allows honest conversations with families to encourage healthier choices. Supporting parents to make changes can improve the health and wellbeing of every member of the household, now and in the future.