One more reason for smokers to kick the habit: it's bad for their pets' health, according to the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit.
A study published in the British Medical Journal Tabacco Control revealed that one in three smokers are likely to quit smoking because it's bad for their pets. The study is the first time researchers looked at the smoking patterns of people who own or live with a pet.
Participants were either smokers or nonsmokers who lived with a dog, cat, or bird. Nearly 3,300 people responded to an online survery through the Michigan Humane Society, Pet Supplies Plus pet stores, and Henry Ford Health Systems.
Sharon Milberger, the study's lead author, said the goal is for smokers to realize that the health of their cats or dogs is affected by their smoking habits.
"Exposure to secondhand smoke has been linked to cancer, allergies, eye and skin diseases, and respiratory problems in dogs and cats," Milberger said.
The survery inquired about pets living in the home, smoking behaviors for themselves and of the people with whom they live, interest in quitting smoking and smoking rules in the house.
Henry Ford researches reported that:
- 28.4% of smokers said knowing that smoking was bad for their pets' health would motivate them to quit.
- 8.7% of smokers said knowing that smoking was bad for their pets' health would motivate them to ask their smoking partners to stop.
- 14% of smokers said they would tell their partner to smoke outdoors.
- Amont nonsmokers, more than 16% said they would ask their partner to quit and 24% said they would tell their partner to smoke outside.
While I don't smoke, I find it interesting that people may be more willing to quit for their pets than othe humans living in the house.
No comments:
Post a Comment