According to new research, smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of sleep disorders among children.

The US study observed 1,400 kids to discover who had been exposed to nicotine when they were in the womb. Those who had been exposed had problems getting better sleep at night.

Dr. Kristen Stone from Women and Infants Hospital in Rhode Island told reporters that heavy smoking has a relation to the severity of sleep problems.

Dr. Stone says that preemptive actions to these disorders can help alleviate the symptoms among children, allowing them to get better sleep quality at night.

“Even an emphasis on basic behavioural sleep education could serve those children well,” advised Dr. Stone.

Reporting from Washington — Citing his own experience as a teenage smoker, President Obama on Monday predicted that a new law giving the Food and Drug Administration sweeping power to regulate tobacco will help young people avoid the smoking habit he has struggled with for years.

The measure, which Obama signed into law Monday, will ban candy-, fruit- and spice-flavored cigarettes and prohibit use of tobacco-product logos and brand names in sponsoring athletic and entertainment events.

The law also requires that tobacco companies fully disclose ingredients and additives, stop targeting youth with their marketing campaigns, quit using terms such as “light,” “low” and “mild” to market their products, and include warning labels on packaging that dominate the front and rear panels.

Nearly a quarter of high school students in the U.S. smoke cigarettes, according to the National Institutes of Health.

And people who start smoking before the age of 21 have the hardest time quitting, the agency reports. About 30% of youth smokers will die early from a smoking-related disease.

At a bill-signing ceremony at the White House, Obama said, “I know how difficult it can be to break this habit when it’s been with you for a long time.”

He gave up cigarettes as part of a deal with his wife, Michelle, who wanted him to quit before he took on the rigors of a presidential campaign.

But in recent weeks, aides to the president have tacitly acknowledged that his nicotine habit isn’t a thing of the past.

On Monday, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said: “It’s something that he continues to struggle with . . . like millions of Americans have.”

Advertisers claim that these cigarettes are a better alternative to standard cigarettes. However, herbal cigarettes are just as dangerous as regular cigarettes.
Like the smoke from tobacco cigarettes smoke from these herbal cigarettes contain numerous carcinogens and toxins, including carbon monoxide, regardless of nicotine content.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ordered distributors and retailers to stop using existing ads and promotional materials.

The companies were forced to place health warnings to their packages.
The researches of National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research have found that clove cigarettes, bidis and additive-free cigarettes release about the same about of nicotine as standard cigarettes.
Another study of the National Institute on Drug Abuse has shown that clove herbal cigarettes are dangerous when burned.

The chemicals produced when burned increases smokers risks of respiratory conditions of pneumonia, bronchitis and lung infections.
Some herbal cigarettes appeal to young smokers because of candy-like flavors like vanilla, chocolate and fruit. Tendu leaves used to wrap bidis do not burn easily, causing smokers to inhale more cancer-causing compounds and toxins into their lungs.
Additional negative health effects associated with the addictive behavior of smoking for “regular” cigarettes, or “tobacco free” herbal cigarettes.

Tobacco use in adolescence is associated with many other health risk behaviours including high-risk sexual behaviour and use of alcohol or other drugs.
Each day in the United States, approximately 3,600 young people between the ages of 12 and 17 years initiate cigarette smoking, and an estimated 1,100 young people become daily cigarette smokers.
Among racial and ethnic subgroups, approximately 7% of white, 7% of Hispanic, 6% of African American, and 3% of Asian American middle school young people were current cigarette smokers in 2006.
In 2007, 20% of high school students in the United States were current cigarette smokers—approximately 19% of females and 21% of males.
Among racial and ethnic subgroups, approximately 23% of white, 17% of Hispanic, and 12% of African American high school students were current cigarette smokers in 200.
In 2006, approximately 6% of middle school students in this country were current cigarette smokers, with estimates of 6% for females and 6% for males.
Children and adolescents who smoke may have a problem with low self-esteem and easy susceptibility to PEER PRESSURE. They may also have problems with DEPRESSION or ANXIETY DISORDERS. They may have a high rate of novelty seeking and rebelliousness.