5 mins read

Helping Kids Understand the Dangers of Smoking

Every day, 3,600 kids between the ages of 12 and 17 start smoking, according to estimates by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A fact sheet on youth and tobacco use states that 20 percent of high school students in the United States were current smokers in 2007. Ninety percent of adults who smoke are likely to have started smoking as kids, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP). These numbers are startling and continue to be a cause for concern. The fact is, kids continue to start smoking despite the fact that there is so much information and statistical data available that ought to deter them. It is the responsibility of parents, caregivers, teachers and mentors to help kids understand the dangers of smoking. This article offers tips and step-by-step instructions to help you in the process.

4 mins read

Smoking Effects on Fetuses

When you’re pregnant, you take a lot of steps to ensure the health of your developing baby. You eat all the right foods and exercise daily. You get plenty of rest and try to reduce your stress levels. And you make sure not to miss a single prenatal appointment. But if you’re addicted to cigarettes, stopping smoking is one of the most significant things you can do to deliver a healthy baby. According to a survey by the U.S. Public Health Service, nearly 20 percent of women smoke while pregnant. Unfortunately, the harmful compounds found in cigarettes can impair, and even be fatal to, a developing fetus.

4 mins read

How to Stay Healthy Before Getting Pregnant

Prenatal health care is a given once you become pregnant. You will have doctor visits, prenatal vitamins and abstinence from alcohol and tobacco, but what about the months leading to the conception? Getting ready to start a family means more than buying a larger house and a sedan. It also means taking care of your body so that it is as healthy as possible when you start trying to conceive.