It is a known fact that smoking is extremely dangerous to your health. Health professionals and government officials have taken various measures in order to educate the public of the different unfavorable effects of smoking to our health. Yet, there are millions of people, who are addicted to their smoking habit. Smoking not only affects the smoker, but also the people around them especially your family. Here are just some ways on how your smoking habit can affect your family.
Increase in Health Risks
One of the ways how smoking affects your family is through their health. While it is true that smokers increase their risk of developing a variety of illnesses and diseases, this increase in health risk is not only confined to them and it extends to the rest of your family members. Studies have shown that second-hand smokers have an even higher risk of developing cancer and other health ailments compared to the smokers themselves. The term second-hand smokers refer to people who are exposed to the smoke emitted by smokers and their cigarettes. The reason why they are at a higher risk is that compared to smokers, the smoke that they inhale is not filtered. And because most of the harmful chemicals and carcinogens are found in the cigarette smoke, prolonged exposure to the smoke is just like making your entire family smoke a cigarette with the filter torn out.
Negative Influence to Your Children
Another way how smoking affects your family is by creating a negative influence to your children. As they grow up, your children look up to you and subconsciously model their behavior to mimic their parents. In fact, studies have shown that children that have taken up a smoking habit during their teenage years are those coming from families where one or both of the parents smoke as well. Even though government officials and school administrators do aggressive efforts to discourage teenagers from starting a smoking habit, seeing their parents smoke can be a whole lot more influential and a factor for them to actually become smokers themselves.
Depletion of the Family Income
With the nations across the world still feeling the effects of the financial crisis that struck them, many families are still coping in stretching the family budget. Smokers unknowingly spend hundreds of dollars each month in order to satisfy their habit by purchasing cigarettes, lowering the household income which is used to purchase basic commodities, pay your children’s tuition fees and your mortgage payments. This depletion of the family income can oftentimes result in tension between you and your spouse regarding financial matters, which can eventually lead to constant arguments, the latter having a psychological effect on your children in the long run.
As you can see, the effects of smoking can be far reaching. Being a parent, you would want to make sure that you are able to keep your family safe, protected and their needs supported. Quitting your smoking habit would not only benefit your health. It would also ensure that your family would remain happy, harmonious and healthy.