London, The children often become victims of smoke cigarettes smoked father or other family members. Recent large study showed that often exposed to cigarette smoke makes children more struggling with mental health problems.

“These findings are increasingly urging parents to be able to stop smoking or at least smoke outside the home, for smoke cigarettes smoked did not have a negative impact on other people especially children,” explained lead researcher Mark Hamer of University College London,Thursday ( 09/12/2010).

According to Hamer, already well known that cigarette smoke associated with many physical health problems in children. But so far not been explored mental health side.

From the data the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that is used in research, it is known that there are 2 of 3 children aged between 3 to 11 years who have been exposed to cigarette smoke in the U.S..

Meanwhile, in children aged 9 to 17 years, 1 in 5 people have been diagnosed with some type of mental disorder or addiction.

To see whether the relevant statistical data, Hamer and colleagues studied 901 children aged 4-8 years do not smoke. The researchers measured levels of a byproduct of cigarette smoke on children’s saliva to measure the exposure to smoke and also ask parents to fill out questionnaires about their child’s emotional, behavioral and social problems.

Based on the results of studies that have been reported in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, shows that more and more children exposed to cigarette smoke, it will be worse mental health, especially children become hyperactive and behave poorly.

“It’s unclear how cigarette smoke will trigger mental problems. But this could also relate to the effects of smoke on chemicals in the brain such as dopamine. Genetic factors can also play. What is clear, do not force the children to breathe smoke cigarettes every day,” asserted Hamer.

In addition to research Hamer, Dr. Michael Weitzman of the New York University Medical Center, who was not involved in the research, also strengthens the evidence that secondary cigarette smoke (secondhand smoke) can cause mental health problems in children, let alone that has begun to be exposed in the womb.

“Many people now realize that exposure to smoke increases the risk of infants experiencing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or sudden infant death syndrome, ear infections and asthma. Secondhand smoke also pose a big burden on quality of life of children, families and communities, because it increases children’s mental health problems children, “said Dr. Weitzman.