| Cigarettes smoke whether from the smokers | | | | secondhand smoke can contribute to these risks. |
| themselves or passive smokers that inhale second | | | | Children and second hand smoke |
| hand smoke is is exceptionally aggravating trigger that | | | | Children are more susceptible than adults to the |
| can worsen asthma symptoms for the nearly 20.3 | | | | effects of secondhand smoke because their lungs are |
| million people in the United States, and possibly more | | | | still developing. After infancy, exposure to tobacco |
| than 30 to 40 million people worldwide who suffer | | | | smoke may continue to cause abnormal breathing. |
| from asthma. | | | | Smoking leads to decreased lung function, making the |
| Quitting smoking should be a priority for people who | | | | lungs more susceptible to asthma triggers. |
| have asthma, or have family members with asthma, | | | | Fifteen million children are regularly exposed to |
| according to the American Academy of Allergy, | | | | secondhand smoke and up to one million children with |
| Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI). | | | | asthma become more severe after exposure to |
| What is asthma? | | | | secondhand smoke. |
| Asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that | | | | Children who inhale environmental tobacco smoke are |
| blocks air flow of the tubes (airways) that leads air to | | | | also at increased risk for a variety of problems |
| the lungs. | | | | including cough, wheeze, ear infections, bronchitis, |
| By squeezing the muscles around the airways and | | | | pneumonia, allergic diseases, and hospital admissions |
| causing swelling, inflammation of the inside of the air | | | | for asthma. |
| tubes, and producing excess mucus, the airways | | | | Quit smoking |
| become narrower and therefore more difficult for air | | | | Quitting smoking decreases the chance of triggering |
| to move in and out of the lungs. | | | | asthma attacks and improves your lung function |
| Prolong symptoms could lead to death if not manage | | | | whether you have asthma or not. Everyone should be |
| properly. | | | | smoke free. |
| How can smoke harm your body? | | | | While you are stopping, at least you can stop smoking |
| Smoking can harm your body in many ways, but it is | | | | in the house and the car to decrease exposure to |
| very harmful to the lungs. The airways in a person with | | | | secondhand smoke for your family members. |
| asthma are very sensitive and "twitchy" and therefore | | | | Within minutes of quitting smoking, you will begin a |
| can easily be squeezed down by the smooth muscle | | | | series of changes in your body such as having more |
| that surrounds these tubes. | | | | energy, breathing easier, smelling, tasting food better, |
| Many things can trigger symptoms such as coughing, | | | | and decreasing your body's carbon monoxide level. |
| wheezing, experiencing chest tightness and shortness | | | | Benefits of quitting smoking |
| of breath. | | | | Some long-term benefits of quitting smoking are the |
| When a person inhales tobacco smoke whether for | | | | decreasing chance of heart attack, improving your |
| personal smoking or passive smoke, these irritating | | | | circulation, decreasing sinus congestion and cough, and |
| substances can set off an asthma attack. | | | | reducing the risk of a stroke. |
| Moms who smoke | | | | An allergist/immunologist is a physician specially trained |
| Children born to mothers who smoke when pregnant | | | | to manage and treat allergies and asthma. To help |
| have an increased risk for reduced lung function and | | | | prevent symptoms, he or she will work with you to |
| asthma. | | | | figure out your asthma triggers and develop an |
| Other risks include decreased birth weight and size as | | | | appropriate management plan, including developing |
| well as an increased risk for eczema and hay fever. | | | | environmental controls and prescribing medication if |
| Once you quit smoking, your baby will be healthier, get | | | | needed. |
| more oxygen and have fewer infections and colds. | | | | Besides medical experts working with you, you should |
| It is also important to stay away from places that | | | | take your own responsibility to quit smoking entirely, |
| allow smoking when you are pregnant, since | | | | mentally and physically. |