Link between Asthma & Smoking

Secondhand smoke is really bad for ordinary people who do not smoke and worse for people suffering from asthma and small children. In case of people suffering from asthma, the cigarette smoke might prove to be life threatening as it leads to an asthmatic trigger. The bad part is, frequent exposure can make the symptoms worse and the health worser.

An asthma attack usually happens as a result of inflammation or irritation in the airways. An asthmatic is someone who has sensitive airways just like those people with sensitive skin. Any irritation causes a reaction. And in a similar way, the cigarette smoke acts as a trigger point for asthmatics.

Connection between Smoking & Asthma

There are many elements in the air that might result in asthma attack for the patients. However none is as dangerous as the smoke coming out of the cigarettes. According to stats, the cases of hospitalization rose to almost five times in case of people who suffered from asthma and they lived with someone who used to smoke. And even though the smoking might happen in the open, the smoke on the clothes or the traces of tobacco can stimulate the sensitive airways of asthmatic. To put things into perspective, even if smoking does not happen in front of the asthmatic, there is a high probability that the asthmatic might get triggered with an attack.

And the same research carried on individuals who lived in non-smoking households showed significant reduction in their asthma attacks (almost 90 % of the cases. In case of smokers who suffered from the problem of asthma, research showed that the medicines did not work all that well and they showed less of a response. Also, in some cases, alternative treatment was suggested.

Pregnancy, Smoking & the risk of Asthma attack

Women who are pregnant are usually advised to not smoke and also avoiding smoke at all the places. Any form of secondhand smoke can be dangerous for the women and their to be born. It has been observed that the cigarette smoke tends to affect the birth weight in case of a new born. It can also lead to high infant mortality. Also, smoking or second hand smoke might cause development of asthma in the future for to be born baby. Their chances of contacting asthmatic attacks also increase.

• Causes and Risk Factors (pdf) - National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

The Bottom Line on Smoking and Asthma Attacks

Basically according to all the health organizations the following steps need to be followed in order to prevent any form of asthmatic attacks in case of individuals:

• You need to stop smoking with immediate effect not just for you but for others around you
• Do not permit anyone to smoke in your car or house( Care especially needs to be taken by asthmatics)
• If your child suffers from asthma, ensure he lives in a smoke free environment. Also, find caretakers who stay clean, if need be
• Talk to a doctor if need be or get some help from family and friends to kick the habit of smoking