Health Effects Of Smoking With Asthma

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airway that causes symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, cough and tightness in the chest. During an asthma attack, the muscles around the airways tighten and constrict (bronchospasm), whilst the lining of the air passages swell and thicken due to increased mucus secretion. These two factors cause the airways to narrow, thus reducing the flow of air in and out of the lungs. The severity and frequency of such attacks differs from individual to individual.

Although there are many indoor and outdoor triggers that can lead to an asthma attack, smoke from cigarettes, cigars and pipes is one of the most common ones. 20 to 35 percent of adults worldwide with asthma are cigarette smokers.

Tobacco smoke can trigger the symptoms of asthma in two ways. When an asthmatic inhales smoke, it irritates the already sensitive airways and causes them to narrow, thus leading to breathing difficulties and cough. In addition, the tobacco smoke also damages the tiny hair-like projections in the airways called cilia. Normally, cilia sweep dust and mucus out of the airways, but since the smoke damages them it causes a build-up of mucus in the airways. A study published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI) showed that active smokers exhibit worse symptoms as compared to former smokers and those who have never smoked.

Although directly smoking a cigarette is harmful for those who have asthma, inhaling secondhand smoke is equally dangerous and can exacerbate the symptoms and severity of asthma. Secondhand smoke or environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) refers to the smoke that is released in the air when a smoker exhales. This exhaled smoke contains more than 4000 substances, a number of which are toxic or carcinogenic. These include chemicals such as carbon monoxide, benzene, formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide. Children especially are at a higher risk of lung damage and illnesses due to secondhand smoke. Such smoke is responsible for between 150,000 and 300,000 lower respiratory tract infections in infants and children under 18 months of age, resulting in between 7,500 and 15,000 hospitalizations each year.

Smoking during pregnancy is also a major risk factor for developing asthma. The nicotine from the cigarettes not only affects the mother’s lungs but also travels through the bloodstream to affect the unborn child. Children whose mothers smoked during pregnancy are 10 times more likely to develop asthma. Smoking during this period has also been linked with low birth weight, premature births, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

If you would like to reduce your family’s exposure to smoke, it is important to take the following precautions:

1. Do not smoke or allow others to smoke in and around your house

2. Do not let anyone smoke in your car, even with the windows down as some amount will always remain in the atmosphere

3. Ensure that your children are always in a tobacco-free environment, be it a school or a playground

4. Teach your children to stay away from secondhand smoke

5. Be a good role model for your teenage children by not smoking. Explain the side-effects and possible outcomes that can occur if they experiment with cigarettes, cigars or pipes

Although it is not easy to quit smoking, it is important to keep in mind how harmful this habit is to you and those around you. If you are ready to quit, here are some helpful tips to follow:

1. Talk to your doctor before you quit. Replacement aids such as nicotine gums or medicated patches may help deal with the withdrawal

2. Discard all cigarettes, lighters and ashtrays

3. Avoid situations that trigger your desire to smoke. If you usually smoke after a meal, distract yourself by taking a walk or doing another activity after you eat

4. Focus on eating right and staying active

5. Join a support group that will help you stay on track

6. Announce your decision to your family and friends so they can help you through the process

The effects of quitting smoking are notable and can be experienced as early as 20 minutes after quitting. Soon after you quit, your body will receive more oxygen, your heart rate will drop to normal and will have an increase in energy levels. In a few months, adverse effects like cough and irritation in the throat will significantly decrease. Over time, you will be less susceptible to respiratory infections and the chances of getting a heart attack will also drop. In the long run, there will be a reduced risk of developing lung cancer and COPD.