Facts All Smokers Should Know, Part II
Did you resolve to stop smoking this year? Did you make it through the tough
part--the first few days? If you did, hang in there and keep on going--abstaining
for the first few days is the toughest, but each day it will get easier.
Today
we'll give you some additional facts about women and smoking to keep you motivated
in your quest to overcome your addiction to nicotine:
- Women who smoke during pregnancy have babies that weigh, on average, 7 ounces
less than babies of nonsmoking mothers. These babies show nicotine levels
in their blood equal to adult levels. . And they go through nicotine withdrawal
in their first days of life.
- Mothers who smoke have children with significantly higher rates of ear infections,
even when the mothers report that they "never" smoke in front of the child.
- SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) occurs more often in babies of smoking
moms.
- Women who smoke are twice as likely to lose their vision, even after they
quit.
- Women who smoke are 4 times as likely to have serious side effects from
birth control pills.
Does this mean that women who smoke shouldn't take birth control pills?
No--it means that women who smoke should stop.
Click here for related information.
Created: 1/3/2001 - Donnica Moore, M.D.
