Secondhand Smoke Hurts Kids' Grades ( Teens exposed to fumes at home less l...)

Secondhand Smoke Hurts Kids' Grades

Date:10/19/2007

Teens exposed to fumes at home less likely to pass exams, research shows

FRIDAY, Oct. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Not only is secondhand smoke a threat to teen health, it can also affect their school test scores, a new study finds.

Researchers at Temple University found that 16- and 18-year-olds exposed to secondhand smoke at home were 30 percent less likely to pass standardized tests than their peers.

They reached this conclusion after analyzing data from thousands of mothers and children in the United Kingdom, and factoring in other known risk factors, such as socioeconomic status, gender and smoking by teens.

The study was published in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

The findings add to a growing body of evidence that secondhand smoke affects children's academic performance, as well as their health, the researchers said.

"It's important that we help smoking parents learn how to reduce their children's exposure to secondhand smoke, a goal that can be achieved without requiring the parent to immediately quit smoking, although that's the ultimate goal for the health of the entire family," study author Bradley Collins, an assistant professor of public health and director of the Health Behavior Research Clinic at Temple, said in a prepared statement.

This study did not answer why secondhand smoke affects teen's test scores. Previous studies have suggested a link between prenatal exposure to cigarette smoke and increased risk of cognitive and academic problems, learning disabilities and impulsivity in children.

More information

The American Lung Association has more about secondhand smoke and children.

-- Robert Preidt

SOURCE: Temple University, news release, September 2007
'/>"/>

1

GOOD

Page: 1 2
Related medicine news :

1. The Harmful Effects Of Secondhand Smoke
2. Secondhand Smoking Can Be Deadly
3. New York’s Secondhand Smoke Exposure Continues to Declin
4. Study Finds Link Between Secondhand Smoke and TB Infection in Children
5. Risk of Dementia Increased With Secondhand Smoke
6. World No Tobacco Day Focuses on Secondhand Smoke
7. Risk of Dementia Increased With Secondhand Smoke
8. Secondhand Workplace Smoke Hits Non-smokers Badly
9. Half of worlds children are passive smokers - damning disclosure from WHO
10. Glaxo launches pills to help smokers quit in 7-12 weeks
11. Emotional trigger to smoke

Post Your Comments:

Secondhand Smoke Hurts Kids' Grades( Teens exposed to fumes at home less l...),Health