Why Should I Quit Smoking
You may have started smoking because friends do or because you grew up in a house where other people smoked. No matter why you started, if you’re thinking about quitting, it would probably help your asthma.
Here are some other reasons to quit:
- Smoking can undo the effect of any long-term control medicine you’re taking.
- Smoking can force you to use your quick-relief medicine more often.
- Smoking can disturb your sleep by making you cough more at night.
- Smoking can affect how well you do in sports or other physical activities.
- Worst of all, smoking can send you to the ER with a severe asthma flare-up.
If you decide to quit, you don’t have to go it alone. Get support from other people like friends, family, or other smokers who are trying to quit. Ask your doctor about medicines or things you can do to crave cigarettes less. Your doctor wants to help you quit!
Can You Overdose On Marijuana
While there are no reports of someone dying directly from marijuana use, it can still cause serious health problems. Some people have psychotic reactions that can lead to dangerous behaviors. Others may have uncomfortable side effects from marijuana, such as shaking, leading them to seek care in an emergency room.
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When To See A Gp
See a GP if you think you or your child may have asthma.
Several conditions can cause similar symptoms, so it’s important to get a proper diagnosis and correct treatment.
The GP will usually be able to diagnose asthma by asking about symptoms and carrying out some simple tests.
Find out more about how asthma is diagnosed.
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What Is In Tobacco Smoke
Tobacco smoke has more than 7,000 chemicals. This includes trace amounts of poisons like formaldehyde, arsenic, DDT and cyanide. More than 70 of the substances in tobacco smoke can cause cancer. Many more irritate the lungs and airways. The National Toxicology Program says secondhand smoke is a human carcinogen .
How Is Secondhand Smoke Linked To Asthma And Allergies In Young Children
Children are at high risk of lung damage and illness from inhaled smoke. Studies have shown a clear link between secondhand smoke and asthma in children. But the studies have not proven that secondhand smoke causes asthma in children.
Secondhand smoke can cause serious health problems in children.
- Studies show that older children whose parents smoke get sick more often. Their lungs grow less than children who do not breathe secondhand smoke. They also get more bronchitis and pneumonia.
- Wheezing and coughing are more common in children who breathe secondhand smoke.
- Secondhand smoke can trigger an asthma attack in a child. Children with asthma who are around secondhand smoke have worse and frequent asthma attacks.
- More than 40 percent of children who go to the emergency room for asthma live with smokers.
- Children whose parents smoke around them get more ear infections. They have fluid in their ears more often. They also have more operations to put in ear tubes for drainage.
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Dont Smoke In The Car
Cigarette smoke in a car is high risk because its a small, enclosed space. Even opening a window won’t make enough of a difference. Children are particularly vulnerable to second-hand smoke in cars.
Thats why in England, Wales and Scotland its illegal to smoke in a car, or any vehicle, with anyone under 18 in it.
Is Vaping Bad For Asthma
Vaping is the inhaling and exhaling of a vapor produced by electronic cigarettes or a similar device. Electronic cigarettes are smokeless and battery-operated devices. They are used to deliver nicotine with flavorings or other chemicals to the lungs. They are often sold in fun flavors that appeal to teens and youth.
Most devices resemble cigarettes. Others resemble pens, hookah tips, screwdrivers or memory sticks and have cartridges that are refillable. The liquid in the cartridges becomes an aerosol that is inhaled into the lungs.
Any product with cigarette in its name should be a red flag for anyone who has asthma or allergies.
One recent study showed that long-term use of e-cigarettes increases the risk of respiratory disease. This includes asthma, COPD and chronic bronchitis. The data showed the risk of developing a lung or respiratory disease was significantly linked to e-cigarette use. The risk was even stronger in people who smoked both e-cigarettes and regular cigarettes.
Teens who use e-cigarettes are at higher risk of moving to traditional cigarettes according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. E-cigarettes are often marketed as an effective smoking cessation aid. Science and research do not support these claims.
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Why Do People Smoke
You might wonder why people smoke at all. Many people start smoking when they are kids or teens and they try it for many reasons. Maybe all of their friends were doing it or they grew up in a house where all the grownups smoked.
But no matter why they started, many smokers wish they could quit. Smoking doesn’t just cause problems for people who have asthma. Over time, smoking can lead to serious health problems, such as cancer and heart disease.
Quitting smoking is hard, though, because the tobacco in cigarettes, pipes, and cigars contains a substance called nicotine . Nicotine is addictive . When something is addictive, your body and mind will tell you that you need it to feel OK. If you don’t get it, you might feel sick, stressed out, or crabby.
What About The Vape From E
The vape from e-cigarettes is considered less harmful than tobacco smoke both for someone vaping, and someone breathing in the vape. It has lower levels of toxins and is less polluting in the home.
But in our Annual Asthma Survey 14% of people with asthma told us that vaping, or being exposed to second-hand vape, triggered their asthma symptoms.
Until there is more evidence on the short- and long-term effects of vaping, and breathing in vape when you have asthma, consider avoiding vaping at home, in your car, or around your children.
You can read more about using e-cigarettes as a stop smoking treatment here.
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Treat The Real Issues
All of our experts agree that if you have asthma, particularly if its severe or uncontrolled, then you should avoid smoking pot or using marijuana in any form.
If youre considering smoking marijuana to help with a medical condition, like asthma or anxiety , you should instead get proper treatment for that condition specifically, Dr. Gerber says.
That may mean changing to a daily or different asthma medication and getting therapy and/or medication to control anxiety.
The bottom line is that no one wantslung damage, but because asthma already causes lung damage, people with asthma need to be even more careful with what they put in their lungs.
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So Why Do People With Respiratory Issues Use Weed
It may seem far-fetched to imagine a doctor telling their asthmatic patients to use weed, but thats exactly what Janice Knox does. Shes spent 32 years working as a board-certified anesthesiologist before she began studying the impact of cannabis on illness, and now, she incorporates cannabis into her consultations with patients at her familys American Cannabinoid Clinics in Oregon, where her husband and two daughters all physicians also practice.
Knox says endocannabinoid receptors called CB1 and CB2 work in the lungs to modulate immune responses to inflammation. People have been treating the symptoms of asthma for years, but in the case of cannabis in the lungs, its a CB1, CB2 receptor on those bronchioles, Knox tells Allure. And if we know its chronic inflammation, we know which part of the cannabis is going to work best on those receptors its going to be the THC and the CBD as an anti-inflammatory.
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Rolling A Joint Or Spliff
This may be the most tried and definitely most tested method on this list. A spliff consists of mixing cannabis and another herb or tobacco and then rolling it up. We dont suggest using tobacco for obvious reasons, but if you must you must!
To use hash in a joint or spliff, youre going to want to roll the hash into a snake, using the same motions you would if you were a kid making a snake from Play-Doh. Once completed, lay it on top of your cannabis or tobacco, and proceed to roll the joint. Voila, you have yourself a hash filled spliff!
Causes And Triggers Of Asthma
Asthma is caused by swelling of the breathing tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. This makes the tubes highly sensitive, so they temporarily narrow.
It may happen randomly or after exposure to a trigger.
Common asthma triggers include:
- allergies
- smoke, pollution and cold air
- exercise
- infections like colds or flu
Identifying and avoiding your asthma triggers can help you keep your symptoms under control.
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Discover Products To Help You
We have a range of products that can help you to cut down on the amount you smoke or stop completely. As well as expert advice and support both in store and online.nicorette-icy-white-gum-2mg-nicotine-low-strength-105-pieces,niquitin-clear-21mg-patches-step-1,niquitin-cq-clear-21-mg-14-patches-step-1,nicorette-icy-white-gum-full-strength-105-pieces-4mg
What Is The Link Between Smoking And Asthma
Smoke from cigars, cigarettes and pipes harms your body in many ways, but it is especially harmful to the respiratory system. The airways in a person with asthma are very sensitive and can react to many things, or “triggers.” Coming into contact with these triggers often produces asthma symptoms. Tobacco smoke is a powerful asthma trigger.
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Simple Lung Function Measurements
The results of these 19 studies are summarised in . A total of 11 studies were cross-sectional,, and 8 were observational cohort studies., Eighteen out of 19 studies included spirometric measurements in chronic marijuana smokers.,, The results from these studies varied eight studies found no significant changes in FEV1/FVC ratio,,,,, whereas six studies found a significant decrease in FEV1/FVC in chronic marijuana-only smokers compared with that in controls, with 0.51.9% reduction.,,, The remaining studies also varied in their findings, but suggested that simply measuring the FEV1/FVC ratio does not accurately reflect the pulmonary effects of chronic marijuana use.
Table 1 Summary of studies on the association between chronic cannabis use and lung function
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Diagnosing Asthma In Young Children
Healthcare providers are often reluctant to give a diagnosis of asthma to infants and very young children because children often cough and wheeze with colds, chest infections like bronchitis, and other conditions responsible for asthma-like symptoms.
Since there is no diagnostic test available for children younger than six years of age, making a diagnosis in this age group is more difficult than in older children. Over the age of about six it is possible for a child to have a spirometry test. This is a simple test that measures a childs airflow through the large and small airways. Results reveal if the childs airflow can be improved with medication. Reversibility of airway obstruction is a key feature of asthma. If administering a bronchodilator reverses airway narrowing significantly, the diagnosis is probably asthma.
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Smoking And Reduced Corticosteroid Sensitivity
Asthma patients who smoke are less sensitive to the beneficial effects of short-to-medium term treatment with inhaled corticosteroids or oral corticosteroids with regard to improvements in respiratory symptoms, lung function and exacerbation rates compared to asthma patients who do not smoke . Although increased ICS dosage may partially reverse unresponsiveness , evidence from clinical trials indicates that reduced sensitivity to corticosteroids persists irrespective of the route of administration of treatment or the formulation of ICS . There is limited data on the effects of long-term treatment with ICS on the rate of decline in lung function in smokers with asthma. In a 23-yr follow-up of adult patients with moderate-to-severe asthma, ICS did not reduce the annual decline in FEV1 in individuals who smoked except for a subgroup of males who had a light smoking history. In a further observational study the rate of decline in FEV1 in smokers with asthma was reduced from 58 mL per year in subjects not receiving ICS to 31 mL per year in those receiving treatment with ICS . In support of these findings, the benefits of therapy with inhaled budesonide on preventing lung function decline are similar in light smokers and nonsmokers with mild persistent asthma .
Does Exposure To Wildfire Smoke Put You At Higher Risk Of Getting Covid
The combination of the COVID-19 virus and wildfire smoke are a potentially dangerous combination. A has found evidence that exposure to high levels of fine particle pollution in wildfire smoke can put you at risk for COVID-19. It also could put you at higher risk for hospitalization and death from COVID-19.
Scientists say its possible that wildfire smoke particles can carry the virus. When there are more particles in the air, there is a greater chance the virus can get deep into your airways and lungs. In addition, people may spend more time indoors during wildfires, potentially increasing exposure to the virus in indoor environments.
On its website, CDC says wildfire smoke can harm the lungs and make you more prone to lung infections, including COVID-19.
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Can Secondhand Smoke Affect My Asthma
Even if you don’t smoke, you may still run into smoky situations at parties, events, or even at home. Secondhand smoke is a known asthma trigger. You’ll want to avoid it as much as possible if you have asthma.
If you hang out with smokers or have a family member who smokes in the house, you’re likely to have more frequent and severe asthma symptoms. That might mean more medicine and more trips to the doctor’s office or ER.
There’s not much you can do about other people’s behavior. But let your friends and family know that what they’re doing is making your asthma worse. Ask them not to smoke in your house or car.
Mechanisms For The Adverse Consequences Of Smoking In Asthma
The mechanisms accounting for the adverse consequences of smoking in asthma, including poor symptom control, accelerated decline in lung function and reduced sensitivity to corticosteroids are poorly understood, but are likely to be due to differences in airway inflammation in smokers compared to nonsmokers with asthma .
Modulation of inflammation, repair, and pathologic repair is also dependent upon delicate balances of matrix metalloproteinases and their intrinsic inhibitors, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases . Sputum MMP-12 concentrations are elevated in smokers with asthma compared to nonsmokers with asthma and the levels are inversely associated with lung function and positively related to sputum neutrophil counts . Of note, the admixture of proteolytic enzymes released in the course of allergic inflammation e.g. mast cell tryptase, can convert the inactive pro form of MMP-12 or MMP-9 to active forms, further enhancing the pro-inflammatory signal of the MMP cocktail. It is likely that both smoking and allergic asthma provide pro-inflammatory stimuli at multiple levels, including MMP dysregulation and, thus, can be additive in lung damage.
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Treating Asthma In Smokers
Inhaled 2adrenoreceptor agonists play a central role in the relief of asthma symptoms. However, there are no clinical studies specially designed to evaluate any interference of smoking on the efficacy of such agents .
The therapeutic response to corticosteroids varies markedly between individuals up to one third of the asthmatic smokers show evidence of insensitivity to these drugs . Since this condition is not universal, these drugs should be included in most asthma treatments. The reduction or complete absence of responsiveness among asthmatic smokers remains heightened in long-term treatments and is independent of the type and the formulation of the corticosteroids . However, when detecting this clinical situation it is necessary to consider a possible non-adherence to asthma treatment, the correct use of the devices and/or the continuous use of some form of tobacco.
A possible mechanism for the corticosteroids insensitivity or resistance may be the increased airway mucosal permeability in smokers, which could lead to increased clearance of inhaled corticosteroids from the airways. Smokers also have decreased histone deacetylase activity, which is necessary for corticosteroids to suppress cytokine production .
Smoking Can Cause Irreversible Damage
Perhaps because it is not treatable, airway inflammation becomes severe, and this may cause scarring. Scarred tissue is thicker than normal, and this can lead to some degree of chronic airway narrowing. This means that their asthma becomes only partially reversible with time or treatment, meaning some degree of shortness of breath is always present.4,5
So, if you already have asthma, smoking cigarettes on a daily basis long-term can cause your asthma to get worse over time, and it can also cause airway changes that may cause COPD. The combination of both asthma and COPD is generally referred to as asthma/COPD overlap syndrome.4,5
It is generally understood that asthmatics have the same life expectancy as non-asthmatics. COPD, on the other hand, is only partially reversible and progresses with age. However, aggressive treatment can slow the progression so you can live longer and better with it.4,5
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Can Smoking Harm My Child
Secondhand smoke harms children with asthma even more than adults.
When a child is exposed to tobacco smoke, their lungs become irritated and produce more mucus than normal. Since children’s airways are smaller, the side effects of secondhand smoke affect them faster and can also affect lung function in later life.
Children of parents who smoke are also more likely to develop lung and sinus infections. These infections can make asthma symptoms worse and more difficult to control.