The World Cup, called by some the mother of all international soccer competitions, is held every four years. Hosted this time in Germany, national teams representing 32 countries will compete for the world championship title. World Cup fever is rising, as the first day of the tournament approaches, but the heat is not all due to the frenzied excitement of the three million fans who will attend the games. Cancer advocacy groups and health organizations are none to happy about the fact that while the FIFA will ask fans to voluntarily refrain from smoking, they will not issue a straight-out ban on smoking. According to the low-down on the reasons for the strong objection on the polite request that smokers not smoke with no legal enforcement, it is noted that cigarette lighters and ashtrays will be sold at the games. So, are they asking smokers not to smoke, but just in case they forgot their lighter or need an ashtray, smokers will be able to purchase them at the games?

The World Health Organization, WHO, signed a deal with FIFA four years ago to make the 2002 World Cup games tobacco-free in a deal it hoped would set a precedent for future tournaments. But FIFA declined to renew the agreement for the 2006 event after discussions with the German government and the local organizing committee. According to WHO, billions of people are expected to watch the televised matches around the world and they are concerned, as are all the health organizations and health advocates, that this will send the wrong message about smoking. I know I am sort of confused.

Is smoking or not smoking a choice for everyone? While some cities are banning smoking in public places and some conscious efforts around the US are setting standards to stop smoking in the work place -- and restaurants are following a pattern to either end smoking in their establishments or to designate an area just for smokers -- it is still up to a lot of individuals to make choices where they will go in public to avoid cigarette smoke.

Twenty percent of lung cancers in women are from non-smokers who were exposed to second hand smoke. This statistic seems to be on the rise. But it is not just lung cancers that are affected by second hand smoke. Other types of cancers have been related to smoking or second hand smoke.

As adults we all have to make choices daily whether to go hang out with friends in a bar or night club that allows smoking, or to visit with a friend or family member in their house and they are a smoker. But what about the children? What choices do they have to stay away from parents, guardians, or baby sitters or other family members that are smokers? Children face a higher risk than adults of the negative effects of second hand smoke. Not only is a child's body still developing physically, but their breathing rate is faster than that of adults. Children breathing second hand smoke have many more illnesses like ear infections, bronchitis, allergies, and stunted growth.

So if you are trying to find some way to help you quit smoking, think about the health of your children or the children you are around. If you need another reason, remember that kids of a parent that smokes are more likely to start smoking themselves when they get older.  Do you want your kids to have an increased risk of lung cancer or heart attacks because they learned to smoke from you?

If you just can't quit, then make a conscious effort to smoke outside of the home and do not smoke in the car.  Also consider using smokeless ashtrays.  Cut down on the amount of exposure to second hand cigarette smoke for your child who does not have the choice.