Smoking is harmful for everyone.  People who smoke have increased rates of heart attacks, strokes, emphysema, cancers and many other diseases.  People who don’t smoke, but who are near others who smoke, are at increased risk for all the same diseases from exposure to second-hand smoke.

Smoking is especially bad for people with asthma.  Exposure to cigarette smoke is a common trigger and can set off asthma attacks.  Constant smoke exposure can make asthma very hard to control.  Children who are around smokers often times need much more medicine to control their asthma.  It takes much longer for a child to recover from an asthma attack if they live in the same house as a smoker.

If you smoke, the best way to help yourself and anyone with asthma is to quit smoking all the way.  Some adults will try and smoke only in certain rooms in the house.  This does not help because smoke particles can pass through even the smallest cracks in closed doors and then enter every room.  Some adults will only smoke when a child is not home.  This does not work because cigarette smoke particles can float in the air for a whole day after the cigarette is put out.  Some adults will only smoke outdoors.  This does not help because smoke will enter the house from outside.  And, even the smell of cigarettes on your clothing or breath can set off an asthma attack.

The only sure way to protect a child from cigarette smoke is to quit smoking.  It is very hard to quit – even if you really want to.  But quitting is best for your health and the health of everyone around you.  There are many medicines and programs to help you quit smoking.  You can contact your clinician, or one of many organizations for help.