Smoking is unhealthy for everyone, but especially for someone with asthma. The lungs of a smoker, with or without asthma, may not work as well as they should.
|| K.LEADER DESK
A report was last month published in several dailies of Kashmir wherein an alarming number of people in Kashmir who smoke was mentioned. It was informed in the report that in entire India, the people of Kashmir spend more money as compared to other states in the purchase of the tabaco products. Besides such a worrying trend, what is more worrisome is the impact of such a level of smoking upon the children in Kashmir. Smoking is unhealthy for everyone, but especially for someone with asthma.
The lungs of a smoker, with or without asthma, may not work as well as they should. The person might cough, wheeze, and have shortness of breath. Smoking causes the airways to become swollen, narrow, and filled with sticky mucus — the same problems that cause breathing trouble in people with asthma. For this reason, a smoker who has asthma is more likely to have more frequent and severe flare-ups. Being a smoker is an obvious risk, but just being around people who smoke — and breathing in secondhand smoke — can cause problems, too. Parents can help kids and teens with asthma by protecting them from the effects of tobacco smoke.
The person might cough, wheeze, and have shortness of breath. Smoking causes the airways to become swollen, narrow, and filled with sticky mucus — the same problems that cause breathing trouble in people with asthma. For this reason, a smoker who has asthma is more likely to have more frequent and severe flare-ups.
The Dangers of Secondhand Smoke Secondhand smoke is a well-known asthma trigger. If you smoke, consider quitting, especially if your child has asthma. Secondhand smoke can damage the lungs, leading to long-term breathing problems or worsening existing breathing problems. Kids with asthma who live in households with smokers: may have flareups more often are more likely to have to go the emergency department with severe asthma flare-ups are more likely to miss school because of their asthma must take more asthma medicine have asthma that’s harder to control, even with medication Even kids who don’t have asthma are at risk of problems if their parents smoke. These kids are more likely to get upper respiratory infections, middle ear infections, and even pneumonia. Just being exposed to smoke from 10 cigarettes per day may put kids at risk of developing asthma, even if they’ve never had any breathing problems before.
Cigarette smoke can also get absorbed into upholstery, clothing, and carpeting, leaving carcinogens that can’t be washed away with soap and water. Kids who touch, mouth, play on, or breathe near contaminated surfaces may develop breathing problems due to this kind of “thirdhand” smoke. And here’s the best reason of all to quit smoking: Children whose parents smoke are more likely to smoke themselves when they get older. You don’t have to quit on your own. Talk to your doctor about possible strategies — from support groups to medication. If you do continue smoking, don’t smoke in the house or car.
Kids with asthma who live in households with smokers: may have flare-ups more often are more likely to have to go the emergency department with severe asthma flare-ups are more likely to miss school because of their asthma must take more asthma medicine have asthma that’s harder to control, even with medication.
