harmful effects of second-hand smoke on children

If children live in a home where people do not smoke while the children are present, but do smoke a lot when they are not, how dangerous is the smoke that is in the carpet and furniture to their lungs?

Tobacco smoke that is released into the air by a cigarette, cigar, or pipe is known as second-hand smoke or Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS). It comes from the actual burning of the cigarette or the smoke that is exhaled (breathed out) by the smoker. This smoke contains several toxic parts that can lead to medical problems, including cancer.

Infants and children are most at risk from these toxins because their lungs are still developing and are considered more delicate. Children whose parents smoke have a higher chance of showing breathing problems. ETS has been associated with asthma, tonsillitis, bronchitis, pneumonia and other upper respiratory and lung infections. In addition, parents are very powerful role models for their kids. Children whose parents smoke are more likely to begin smoking themselves in adolescence.

How much harm does exposure to second-hand smoke cause? This depends on how much smoke is in the air and for how much time a person is exposed. The amount of ETS is affected by the size of the space, the number of people smoking in it and whether there is proper ventilation. After the smoking in an area has ended, it can take upwards of 3-4 hours to remove the smoke from just one cigarette and even then some of it may still linger.

There is a great amount of research to be done about the effects of second-hand smoke, including how harmful the leftover residue in places such as the carpet is. Currently the only known way to prevent these harmful effects of second-hand smoke is to never expose children. Not smoking at all is best for both the smokers and their children.
Henry H. Bernstein

recurrent miscarriages and having baby

I am 31 years old. In the last three years I've been pregnant three times, resulting in early miscarriages. My doctor says there is nothing wrong with me. I want to have a baby -- what can I do?
Recurrent miscarriages are really a tragedy for a couple, and I wish you good luck. And looking at statistics, I really think that you will have good luck. The chance of a miscarriage happening in any pregnancy is about 15%. The majority of miscarriages are caused by the sperm and egg failing to join together properly. If you study the genetic makeup of most fetuses that are miscarried, they are abnormal. Given all the tricky things that can happen when fertilization occurs, I am really surprised there aren't more miscarriages occurring.

The good news is that if one suffers a miscarriage, the odds are the same 15% of suffering a miscarriage in the second pregnancy. And even if a woman has gone through three miscarriages, the odds are 75% that she will carry a healthy pregnancy on the fourth attempt. (mary jane minkin, MD)

There are certain medical conditions that do increase the risk of recurrent miscarriages, and it sounds like you have had some of these investigated. Occasionally, women do not ovulate well enough -- a condition called inadequate luteal phase -- which can be monitored by doing a blood test to measure your progesterone level a few days before you are due to get a period. Some women have antibodies to a pregnancy, and these can be checked by blood tests for anticardiolipin antibody and lupus anticoagulant. Rarely, either you or your husband may have a genetic abnormality, which can be checked by looking at the chromosomes (called balanced translocation) from either parent. Finally, you could have some abnormality in your uterus, such as a polyp, fibroid or septum, which can be removed -- this would be discovered by doing an x-ray of your uterus called a hysterogram, or by looking inside your uterus with a hysteroscope.

If all these tests have been done and are normal, the odds are overwhelmingly in your favor. I would encourage you to go for it, Naureen. If these tests uncover a problem it can be dealt with, and I encourage you to, as the ads say, just do it. Good luck.

murmur of MVP in children

Question : As a child I was dx with MVP. When I last saw my cardiologist for near fainting spells, unexplained racing beats while resting, and dizziness after swimming laps, I was told that I had grown out of it. I recently had a physical for my new job with the state and the physician asked me if I knew I had a heart murmur. I told him that as a child I had been dx with MVP and had an echo at 12. My question is why did the state physician hear a murmur (graded it at +2) and my cardiologist did not? I do not know if I have regurgitation, I am now 23. Should I have a repeat echo?

The murmur of MVP can be heard sometimes and inaudible at other times. Since your cardiologist didn't hear it, I doubt if you have a significant leak. If you are healthy and can exercise as well as others your age, I would never get another echo. MVP is benign, unlikely ever to have and bad effect on your heart. On the other hand, if you are worried, why not get another echo. Echoes are absolutely harmless.