Tobacco, heart disease, and practical counseling.

As a large part of the care for children is preventive health, knowledge about the effects of tobacco exposure, risk factors, prevention strategies, and intervention are important. Because most smokers begin smoking while being cared for by physicians who care for children, pediatricians are particularly well suited to identify those at risk and to provide meaningful prevention. As physicians, we need to also assist parents to quit smoking, thereby setting a good example to their children, while improving their health as well as that of their children. Likewise, when identifying a youth experimenting or regularly smoking tobacco, intervention needs to be offered through counseling, referral, or medical therapy.