Secondhand Smoke Linked To Sleep Problems In Children

Main Category: Smoking / Quit Smoking
Also Included In: Sleep / Sleep Disorders / Insomnia;  Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 18 Jan 2010 - 10:00 PDT

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Both adults and adolescents who smoke have reported difficulties sleeping, and young children exposed to tobacco smoke have poorer sleep quality. Recent research has found that children with asthma have more parent-reported sleep issues when exposed to tobacco smoke. The study, "Associations Between Secondhand Smoke Exposure and Sleep Patterns in Children," in the February issue of Pediatrics (appearing online Jan. 18), examined 219 children enrolled in an asthma intervention trial who were regularly exposed to secondhand smoke.

Researchers found that exposure to secondhand smoke can be associated with sleep problems among children with asthma, including difficulties falling asleep, more sleep-disordered breathing and increased daytime sleepiness. Sleep efficiency has been shown to improve with effective asthma treatment, but study authors feel that the reduction or elimination of secondhand smoke can have significant impact on physical and emotional health and school performance among the pediatric population.

Source
American Academy of Pediatrics

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