HHS HealthBeat (December 29, 2008)

Secondhand smoke and boys, bad and sad

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Boys with asthma seem to have more behavior problems if they’ve been around secondhand smoke. Researcher Kimberly Yolton of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center found that in data on kids ages 6 to 12 who were around an average of 13 cigarettes a day.

Scientists don’t understand why children with asthma would have behavior problems from secondhand smoke. But Yolton says it’s been reported before.

In her study, boys were more likely to be hyperactive and aggressive, and depressed and anxious. 

Yolton concludes:

[Kimberly Yolton speaks] ``There’s really no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Parents and children should try to avoid any exposure, when at all possible.’’

The study in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

Last revised: December, 30 2008