Research finds secondhand smoke doubles the risk of ADHD in children

Researchers at University of California San Francisco found that children who are exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to develop attention deficit/hyperactive disorder (ADHD), among other health problems.

The study revealed that children between the ages of 4 and 15 who inhaled secondhand smoke regularly had double the risk of developing ADHD, compared to kids who do not come in contact with smoke.

Children with ADHD can find it difficult to focus and may be easily distracted. They may interrupt others, and may often be in constant motion. Therapeutic boarding schools can help those kids who struggle from the effects of the condition by offering individualized learning that traditional schools cannot.

Analysts say that exposure to secondhand smoke can have a negative impact on children's learning as well as their health and overall well-being. Furthermore, kids are impacted in areas of development which hinder cognitive and social skills.

According to a 2006 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4.5 million children between ages 5 and 17 have been diagnosed with ADHD.