Smoking Parents Endanger Children

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Smoking Parents Endanger Children

Nov. 19, 2002 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Parents who smoke may want to think

twice before lighting up around their children. At the American Heart

Association's Scientific Sessions 2002, a new report suggests oxidative

stress and free-radical production from second-hand smoke is linked to

blood vessel damage in children.The findings continue to support

information that second-hand smoke deteriorates the body's ability to

protect against antioxidants. In addition, it damages the arteries and

can lead to atherosclerosis, heart disease and stroke. Another threat

from second-hand smoke is the production of free-radicals, which are

irregular particles produced from the development of oxidation. This

process is referred to as oxidative stress in the blood and tends to be

extremely prevalent in children exposed to second-hand smoke.In a new

study, Austrian researchers examined the levels of the biological

compound, 8-epi-PGF2alpha, in the blood and urine of 158 children with

parents who smoke cigarettes. The compound 8-epi-PGF2alpha forms when

free-radicals attack the chemical responsible for blood vessel dilation

and blood clot prevention. Helmut F. Sinzinger, M.D., of the University

of Vienna, Austria, says, " It is a very potent blood vessel constrictor

and may help create blood vessel spasm and set the stage for blood clot

formation. " Researchers compared the levels of 8-epi-PGF2alpha from the

group of children with parents who smoke to a group of children with

non-smoking parents. They found 8-epi-PGF2alpha levels were 35 percent to

50 percent higher in the blood of children whose parents smoked less than

20 cigarettes a day and 20 percent to 30 percent higher in their urine

when compared to the children of non-smoking parents. Also, children with

parents who smoke 40 or more cigarettes a day had a 130 percent higher

blood 8-epi-PGF2alpha level and a 65 percent higher urinary

8-epi-PGF2alpha level. Sinzinger adds: " Considering that in the United

States and Western Europe nearly half of all children are exposed to

second-hand smoke in some way, these findings could be of great

importance. Later vascular disease might be triggered early in childhood

by exposure to second-hand smoke. " SOURCE: American Heart Association's

Scientific Sessions 2002, Chicago, Nov. 17-20, 2002[Children's Health

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