Mom and Dad Lead the Way in Lifetime Habits

Dr. Roger McIntire

Secondhand smoke is bad for kids and so is the example. And it’s nice she has reduced the smell of their clothes as well. She can’t smell it on herself, and the kids will probably air out before school lunch.

But the example has been set, and I’m sure the kids got the message. Of the 3,000 kids who start smoking each day, about two-thirds have parents who smoke. “Well, it’s up to them isn’t it?” one smoking father said. Well, not exactly.

The number who start smoking hasn’t changed much over the years, but now more than half quit later on. So every day only about 800 start a lifetime of smoking. The cigarette bill for 40 years will be $28,000.

Girls are more likely to start early. Both girls and boys will lose two more teeth each decade than their non-smoking friends, and they will have twice as many colds, flu, and respiratory disorders. Their skin will be less elastic which means more wrinkles so by age 50 they will look about 10 years older than their friends.

Indirectly, Mom and Dad’s habits determine the risks on other fronts. Young smokers are the likely victims of marijuana smoking, and marijuana smokers are twice as likely to try more dangerous drugs.

Of course there are exceptions. My uncle always maintained his smoking didn’t bother him at all, and I guess he was right. He outlived his son, who died of emphysema, by 20 years.

Those who resist their parents’ example until 30 will likely never start. Eighty percent of lifelong smokers start in high school.

For those who quit, the benefits begin right away. Twenty minutes after the last puff, blood pressure and heart rate decrease. In eight hours, carbon monoxide levels drop to normal and oxygen levels increase to normal.

After one day, the chances of heart attack begin decreasing and circulation improves. By one year, the risk of heart disease is half that of a regular smoker. The risk of stroke is back to normal in five years. Risk for lung cancer takes longer to come down, but after 10 years it is down by half. Most risks are back to that of a non-smoker 15 years after quitting.

Scientific studies show similar results for other habits. Parents who are overweight are twice as likely to have children who are overweight. And of course exercise habits follow the same trends. You can always find exceptions that help excuse bad habits, but the children suffer nevertheless.

Bad habits are hard to hide in a family. No matter how you view the statistics on smoking, diet and exercise, this one conclusion comes through clearly. When it comes to bad habits the best help you can give your son or daughter is to set a good example.

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