Smoking in the United StatesIf cigarettes were banned in the United States, the government could direct the money currently used to pay medical bills to more necessary causes. Instead of using this money for diseases knowingly caused by the smoker himself, this money could be used to find a cure for diseases that are not preventable. Perhaps the saddest effect of smoking is on pregnant smokers and their babies. When pregnant women smoke, their babies are forced to smoke too. Many women start smoking at an early age and find it difficult to quit even during pregnancy. Information provided by Health Watch describes smoke as a harmful gas and a deadly substance that passes through the baby's blood from the mother's blood (2). This selfish act on the mother's part can result in miscarriages and stillbirths (SIDS). When a pregnant woman smokes, the various chemicals, including nicotine and carbon monoxide, also affect the baby. "These chemicals have a direct effect on the growth of the fetus. The more the mother smokes during pregnancy, the lower the weight of the newborn. Smoking increases the risk (by more than 50% in light smokers and well over 100% in female smokers read) heavy smokers) that the child's weight will be less than 2500 grams," (Tye 6). These babies are more likely to be stillborn, need intensive hospital care, or die in infancy. Not only has smoking had dangerous and fatal effects on the baby, but the mother is also at risk. The more a pregnant woman snores, the more the risk of placental abnormalities and excessive bleeding increases. Additionally, nicotine can decrease mild production and make breastfeeding more difficult (Taylor 8). So, if a mother knowingly put her life in danger and… middle of paper… could prevent heart disease, compared to children living in smoke-free households (Rumph 20). Additionally, “girls with parents who smoke have a lower ability to carry oxygen in their blood, while boys have lower testosterone levels than children who live in non-smoking households” (Houston 121). While some progress has been made to reduce secondhand smoke in public places, this is not enough. There are no laws to protect people on the streets or innocent children in their homes. The only way to protect innocent non-smokers is to ban the sale of cigarettes, thus eliminating second-hand smoke entirely. Cigarettes are harmful to everyone. They cause addiction, fatal diseases, birth complications and death. Cigarettes create economic problems due to the high costs that the government has to bear for medical expenses. Cigarettes aren't good for anyone, they're just bad for you.