Smoking with Asthma (Personal Experience)

What is the link between smoking and asthma? Well smoke from cigars, cigarettes and pipes harms your body in many different ways, but it is especially harmful to the respiratory system. The airways of a person with asthma are very sensitive and can react to many things. Coming into contact with these triggers often produce asthma symptoms. Tobacco smoke is a very powerful asthma trigger. When a person inhales tobacco smoke, irritating substances settle in the lining of the airways. Often people with asthma who smoke lungs are in a poor condition. Tobacco smoke can also damage the tiny hair - like projections in our airways called "cillia". Normally cillia sweep all the dust and mucus out off our airways. Cigarette smoke damages the cillia so they become unable to work. Cigarette smoke also causes the lungs to produce more mucus than normal. As a result the cillia do not work so mucus and other irritating substances therefore build up in the airways. Tobacco smoke also contains many cancer causing substances which can lead to lung cancer and emphysema.

Do you know what is in a cigarette? Well there are over four thousand chemicals in cigarette smoke. Tar is also in cigarettes and 70% is left in a smokers lungs. Carbon monoxide is also found in cigarette smoke. Ammonia can also be found and this is used in cleaning products. Also found in cigarettes is arsenic. Yes arsenic used in insecticides. Cyanide a deadly poison and acetone used in nail polish are to name but a few more.

Nicotine is a highly - addictive and fast active drug also used in cigarettes. It reaches the brain in seven seconds when inhaled in cigarette smoke. It has been scientifically prov en that nicotine can increase the feeling of agitation, cause a light head and cause nausea. Different people have different levels off addiction, but learning a bit about it can help manage your addiction.

People who do not smoke do not realize how hard it is to stop. Smoking with asthma is a stupid thing to do. If you have asthma smoking is extremely risky because of the further damage you can do to your lungs. When someone smokes, he or she may cough, wheeze and feel short of breath. This is because smoke irritates the airways, causing them to become swollen, narrow and full of mucus. These are the same things that happen during an asthma flare - up. This is also why smoking can cause those asthma flare - ups more often. These flare - ups will be more severe and harder to control, even with medicine. Smoking can also undo the effects of any medication you are taking. It can also cause disturbed sleep because you cough, cough, cough. It can also put you in hospital with a severe flare - up. If you do not smoke and others around you do, make them aware they are putting you, others and themselves in bad health.

Did you know if you smoked young you are not alone. Ninety percent of smokers start before they reach twenty one. Many off them keep smoking because it is so highly addictive. Every cigarette you smoke can take five to twenty minutes of your life. Smoking can cause fertility problems in both men and women. Smokers are also at risk of illness, a slower healing time and apart from this smoking is very expensive so try and give it up.

Some tips to help you quit. Well hide your matches, lighters and ashtrays. When you get the urge for a cigarette hold your breath for 10 seconds. Do not let anyone smoke in your house. Keep finger food handy it help's the urge too. Chewing gum is also helpful and staying active helps take your mind off it. Join a local support group and talk to you doctor about nicotine replacement products.

Second hand smoke is an asthma trigger. If you smoke consider quiting if you, your child or partner has asthma. Second hand smoke can damage lungs, lead to long term breathing problems and make existing ones worse. Children with asthma who's parents smoke have more flare - ups, are more likely to have more time off school, likely to go to hospital with severe attacks, take more asthma medications and have harder to control asthma.

Smoking when pregnant can harm the unborn baby. The effects of this can be a low birth weight, premature birth and miscarriage. Even after they are born babies who's Mums continue to smoke are at very high risk of breathing problems like asthma and even dying of sudden infant death syndrome. Smoking is harmful to babies.

Smokers with mild asthma do not perceive how breathless they are. 22% of asthmatics smoke and 82% of people with asthma, triggers are tobacco smoke. This may partly explain why smokers with asthma continue to smoke even though they are permanently damaging their lungs.

source;www.asthma.org.au