Editor’s Note:
This is a true story.
Xin Yu is a staff member of a health institution in Yunnan Province. Shortly after her son was born, she developed bronchial asthma. In the following seven years, the whole family suffered from her son’s repeated attacks of asthma.
It was a long time before Xinyu realized that her son’s illness was related to second-hand smoke inhalation. For the sake of the health of more children, the mother tried her best in the subsequent tobacco control work, even if she didn’t want other children to suffer the same pain. She also warned others with her children’s stories countless times.
The following is the story of Xinyu.
The child was seriously ill
That winter night, my lovely son Xiao Ran was born. The joy brought by little life warmed the winter that year.
Xiao Ran is healthy and beautiful, can eat and sleep, and especially loves to laugh. My lover and I are excited and full of expectation. We are still learning how to be good parents and love our baby carefully.
When Xiao Ran was 1 year old and 2 months old, he had a [cold]. To my surprise, what I thought was a common disease caused my son to cough frequently, gasp severely and even have blue lips.
We rushed the child to the hospital, and only after rescue did we get better. The doctor diagnosed the child with asthma. In this way, the nightmare began-
In the following seven years, Xiao Ran’s asthma broke out almost once a month. Cough, repeated wheezing and dyspnea became common occurrences for children, and the infusion bottle in the hospital became his playmate. I also basically can’t work normally… … …
The whole family was worried about this. As long as Ran Dad and I received a phone call from the old man, our hearts were immediately tightened: Is the child sick again? As long as the child does not suffer from the disease for a period of time, the whole family is happy as if it were celebrating the festival.
The cause of the disease is still unknown.
Once, the child suffered from asthma, which was very serious. After being sent to the hospital, the doctor issued a notice of critical illness. My heart ached and my surgeon Ran Dad shed tears.
As a doctor, He knew that bronchial asthma was a chronic disease with recurrent cough and asthma, In order to cure the child’s disease and relieve the child’s pain, he asked almost all the respiratory experts in provincial hospitals at that time, but the answer was almost the same: there are more than 70 kinds of allergic substances that cause asthma. Generally speaking, it is difficult to determine which one.
Xiao Ran grew up suffering from asthma and the worries and sufferings of all his relatives. Because the child’s slight running and jumping will cause wheezing, we have been afraid to let him have too many sports, even some games he can’t participate in, can only watch other children play. As a result, the child’s childhood also lacks the happiness and joy brought by games and sports.
Therefore, Xiao Ran’s physical quality has not been high, and his character has gradually become self-closed and self-abased.
Since I went to primary school, Xiao Ran has gradually become stronger, asthma attacks have gradually decreased, and my heart has gradually fallen down. However, I have never understood why Xiao Ran got such a dangerous childhood asthma.
The culprit turned out to be second-hand smoke.
One day many years later, I happened to see several latest research papers. A large amount of evidence strongly proves that the main cause and allergen of children’s allergic asthma is secondhand smoke! I suddenly thought of Xiao Ran’s situation and couldn’t help froze. When the child was young, we lived with the old man. The child’s grandfather smoked and Xiao Ran’s uncle smoked, but his father sometimes smoked a few.
There will always be smoke smell in the home, but after staying for a long time, I can’t feel it. However, I didn’t expect that the original smoke was the main culprit of children’s asthma.
Later, when the child went to primary school, the family moved into a new house and left the environment where secondhand smoke was rampant, which was consistent with the gradual decrease in the frequency of asthma in Xiao Ran.
That day, I turned off my cell phone. I felt mixed feelings when I stayed in the office silently until late at night.
Why didn’t I know this knowledge earlier? Why did no doctor give me any hint during the years of seeking medical treatment? However, as a doctor, Dad did not realize this clearly.
For the sake of children, quit smoking! For the sake of children, smoke control!
At that time, I made up my mind to tell the family of every asthmatic child in the world this information.
My father and I also talked about this matter for a long time. The atmosphere was very dignified. My tears accompanied our conversation all the time. However, my father also looked very depressed.
After returning home, I told Xiao Ran’s grandfather this information. After the old man pondered for a long time, he said, “No more smoking. Before, Xiao Ran’s grandfather failed to quit smoking several times, but this time, his old man’s house really never touched the cigarette again.”
Shortly thereafter, my department took on the work of tobacco hazard control, and I became the person in charge of this work. Later, I had many young people around me, and we walked on the road of tobacco control together.
It is really very difficult for us to do tobacco control work in Yunnan, China’s largest tobacco production, sales and consumption area, but my team and I have been sticking to it, because we have sincere care for the healthy growth of children and the responsibility to create a healthy and safe living environment for children!
The harm of secondhand smoke is far more serious than you think.
Through various efforts, more and more people have realized the harm of smoking to their bodies, but there is still a lack of understanding of second-hand smoke.
Experiments prove that:
Second-hand smoke per unit mass is more toxic than first-hand smoke!
In proportion to weight, children breathe more air than adults, thus inhaling more harmful smoke.
According to the assessment of the World Health Organization, the hazards of second-hand smoke to children mainly include: causing childhood asthma, sudden infant death syndrome, tracheitis, pneumonia and ear inflammation.
Look at the following amazing numbers:
In the United States, secondhand smoke has led to an increase in the number of cases and aggravated symptoms of 200,000 to 1 million children suffering from asthma.
There are about 1 900 to 2 700 cases of sudden infant death syndrome every year, which is believed to be related to secondhand smoke pollution.
I love my grandchildren so much, but I didn’t expect to quit smoking?
Dr. Clove has done two simple small surveys, and the results show that more than half of the readers have their children brought by grandparents or grandparents. Among the readers, nearly 40% of their friends are smokers!
It can be imagined that the elders love the younger generation [they are afraid of melting in their mouths and falling in their palms]. However, have you ever thought that quitting smoking may be the greatest protection for the babies? !
In England, 6,802 fewer children were admitted to hospital in the first three years of the smoke-free legislation.
In the six years since the implementation of the smoke-free law in Hong Kong, the number of children hospitalized with lower respiratory tract infection has decreased by 13 657.
These exact studies and clear figures have all proved the harm of second-hand smoke and the gratifying results after quitting and controlling smoking.
One more emphasis: don’t think as long as you don’t smoke in front of your children. Experts believe that even after the smoke clears, the residual substances attached to the house and clothes may continue to cause harm.
The child is the flower and the apple of his eye. Is it true that he is willing to torment the little baby with such smoke and mist?
For the sake of the health of the children in the family and their own bodies, act now and make up your mind to quit smoking.