<p>Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. Cigarette smoking can be dangerous for asthma patients, as tobacco smoke is a powerful trigger of asthma symptoms. In asthma, allergic inflammation of the bronchial tubes increases mucus production, leading to cough and phlegm. In long-term cigarette smokers, chronic inhalation of smoke from burning tobacco also stimulates the mucous glands in the bronchial tubes to make excess mucus, giving rise to daily cough with phlegm.<br /><br />Smokers who have asthma could have worse symptoms, and are more prone to get an attack, and often have a different kind of airway inflammation than the non-smoking asthmatics. <br /><br />The mechanism<br />Smoke comprises more than 4,000 chemicals, including carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide makes it harder for oxygen to flow around the body. When you smoke, or are exposed to smoke, you are taking the chemicals right into your lungs. The chemicals inflame the airways and lungs. If you are a smoker, or are regularly exposed to tobacco smoke, you will have more symptoms and need more medicines for your asthma. If your asthma symptoms increase, you are at a higher risk of an attack.<br /><br />Even if you are a passive smoker, symptoms can occur when you come in contact with an active smoker.<br /><br />How does tobacco smoke trigger asthma?<br />When a person breathes in tobacco smoke, irritating substances get deposited in the moist linings of the airways. These substances can cause an asthmatic attack.<br />In addition, tobacco smoke damages tiny hair in the airways called cilia. Generally, cilia sweeps dust and mucus out of the airways of the lungs. Tobacco smoke harms cilia so they become inactive and let dust and mucus in the airways.<br />Smoke also triggers high production of mucus than normal and as a result causes an attack.<br /><br />Is passive smoking harmful to a person with asthma?<br />Second-hand smoke is a mixture of smoke from a burning cigar or cigarette and smoke exhaled by a smoker. Passive smoking is particularly damaging to people with asthma. When an asthma patient is open to exhaled smoke, he or she is more susceptible to wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath.<br /><br />Asthma in children and effects of passive smoking on them<br />When a child is exposed to tobacco smoke, his lungs become inflamed and hence produce more mucus than normal. Since a child’s airways are smaller, the second-hand smoke affects them faster and can hamper lung function in later life.<br />Children whose parents smoke are also more prone to develop lung and sinus infections. These infections can lead to worse asthma symptoms, which are more difficult to control. It can also lead to delayed progress in young children. <br /><br />Can smoking harm an unborn child?<br />Nicotine, the addictive ingredient in tobacco products, travels through the mother’s blood directly into the baby’s body. Children whose mothers smoke during pregnancy may have weaker lungs, and are therefore prone to airborne diseases like asthma.<br />Ways to decrease exposure to tobacco smoke:<br /><br />*If you smoke, quit now. Quitting is not easy, but there are many medical resources and programmes to help. Ask your doctor to help you find the one that is best for you. If your spouse or relatives smoke, make them understand the hazards of smoking and encourage them to quit.<br /><br />*Do not allow smoking in your home, your car or nearby area.<br />*Do not let anyone smoke around you or your relatives.<br />*Avoid public spaces that permit smoking.<br /><br />(<em>The author is a director, pulmonology at Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road.</em>)<br /></p>
<p>Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. Cigarette smoking can be dangerous for asthma patients, as tobacco smoke is a powerful trigger of asthma symptoms. In asthma, allergic inflammation of the bronchial tubes increases mucus production, leading to cough and phlegm. In long-term cigarette smokers, chronic inhalation of smoke from burning tobacco also stimulates the mucous glands in the bronchial tubes to make excess mucus, giving rise to daily cough with phlegm.<br /><br />Smokers who have asthma could have worse symptoms, and are more prone to get an attack, and often have a different kind of airway inflammation than the non-smoking asthmatics. <br /><br />The mechanism<br />Smoke comprises more than 4,000 chemicals, including carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide makes it harder for oxygen to flow around the body. When you smoke, or are exposed to smoke, you are taking the chemicals right into your lungs. The chemicals inflame the airways and lungs. If you are a smoker, or are regularly exposed to tobacco smoke, you will have more symptoms and need more medicines for your asthma. If your asthma symptoms increase, you are at a higher risk of an attack.<br /><br />Even if you are a passive smoker, symptoms can occur when you come in contact with an active smoker.<br /><br />How does tobacco smoke trigger asthma?<br />When a person breathes in tobacco smoke, irritating substances get deposited in the moist linings of the airways. These substances can cause an asthmatic attack.<br />In addition, tobacco smoke damages tiny hair in the airways called cilia. Generally, cilia sweeps dust and mucus out of the airways of the lungs. Tobacco smoke harms cilia so they become inactive and let dust and mucus in the airways.<br />Smoke also triggers high production of mucus than normal and as a result causes an attack.<br /><br />Is passive smoking harmful to a person with asthma?<br />Second-hand smoke is a mixture of smoke from a burning cigar or cigarette and smoke exhaled by a smoker. Passive smoking is particularly damaging to people with asthma. When an asthma patient is open to exhaled smoke, he or she is more susceptible to wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath.<br /><br />Asthma in children and effects of passive smoking on them<br />When a child is exposed to tobacco smoke, his lungs become inflamed and hence produce more mucus than normal. Since a child’s airways are smaller, the second-hand smoke affects them faster and can hamper lung function in later life.<br />Children whose parents smoke are also more prone to develop lung and sinus infections. These infections can lead to worse asthma symptoms, which are more difficult to control. It can also lead to delayed progress in young children. <br /><br />Can smoking harm an unborn child?<br />Nicotine, the addictive ingredient in tobacco products, travels through the mother’s blood directly into the baby’s body. Children whose mothers smoke during pregnancy may have weaker lungs, and are therefore prone to airborne diseases like asthma.<br />Ways to decrease exposure to tobacco smoke:<br /><br />*If you smoke, quit now. Quitting is not easy, but there are many medical resources and programmes to help. Ask your doctor to help you find the one that is best for you. If your spouse or relatives smoke, make them understand the hazards of smoking and encourage them to quit.<br /><br />*Do not allow smoking in your home, your car or nearby area.<br />*Do not let anyone smoke around you or your relatives.<br />*Avoid public spaces that permit smoking.<br /><br />(<em>The author is a director, pulmonology at Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road.</em>)<br /></p>
