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People who smoke and who have asthma have worse asthma control, more airway damage and faster loss of lung function. Second-hand smoke, or passive smoking, is a trigger for people with asthma, so people with asthma need to avoid smoky places whenever possible.
People with asthma have sensitive airways inside their lungs. Certain ‘triggers’ can make these airways narrow.
If you have asthma, smoking can lead to more asthma symptoms, more frequent asthma attacks, worse asthma control and less benefit from some asthma medications. Smoking also damages your airways, leading to inflammation and faster loss of lung function.
Stopping smoking may reduce asthma symptoms and use of asthma medication within a few months.
Asthma and smoking – damage to airways
Your lungs are lined by tiny hairs called cilia. These move in a wave-like motion to sweep dust, pollens and other irritants out of your lungs. Cigarette smoke damages these tiny hairs.
This means your lungs will be less able to clean themselves, which can lead to mucus and toxic substances collecting in the lungs, increasing the risk of lung disease. Smoking can also damage the small airways and air sacs within the lungs, causing emphysema.
Asthma and passive smoking
Breathing in other people’s cigarette smoke can also be harmful to a person with asthma, especially children. Second-hand cigarette smoke can:
- Trigger an asthma attack
- Increase the frequency of asthma attacks
- Increase your need for asthma medication
- Make your airways more sensitive to other triggers like pollen
- Reduce your lung function.
Asthma and smoking during pregnancy
If a woman smokes when she is pregnant, the chemicals in the cigarette smoke are passed to the developing baby through the umbilical cord. The baby’s lungs can be affected, which increases the baby’s risk of developing wheezing symptoms early in life.
Smoking during pregnancy also causes many other problems, such as low birth weight and premature labour, and increases the risk of fetal death and stillbirth.
Asthma and smoking around children
Children exposed to second-hand smoke are more likely to develop asthma in childhood. Children with asthma who live in a smoky environment have more severe symptoms, suffer more frequent asthma attacks and are more likely to use asthma medications.
Children of people who smoke are more likely to develop chest infections and other illnesses. Viral chest infections in infancy increase the risk of developing asthma in childhood, especially among infants who are sensitised to allergens.
In Victoria, it is illegal to smoke in cars carrying children who are under 18 years of age.
Asthma and smoking – reducing risk
You can reduce the risk of worsening your asthma by avoiding cigarette smoke. Some suggestions include:
- Quit smoking.
- Make your home completely smoke free – ask guests not to smoke in your house.
- Avoid smoky places, such as outdoor areas of pubs, bars and cafes.
Asthma and smoking – when you can’t avoid smoky places
If you can’t always keep away from smoky places, it is important to manage your asthma on a daily basis. If you need to take your reliever medication more than three or four times a week (excluding ‘before exercise’ medication), you should visit your doctor. Your asthma management plan might need to be adjusted.
Remember to take your reliever medication with you when you visit a smoky place.
Where to get help
- Your doctor
- Your local pharmacy
- Asthma Victoria Tel. (03) 9326 7088
- Quitline Tel. 13 7848
Things to remember
- Second-hand smoke is a trigger for people with asthma.
- People who smoke and who have asthma have worse asthma control and faster loss of lung function.
- Women who smoke during pregnancy are harming the development of their baby’s lungs.
- If you have asthma, avoid smoky places whenever possible.
You might also be interested in:
- Asthma.
- Asthma and teenagers.
- Asthma and young children.
- Asthma children and smoking.
- Passive smoking.
- Smoking tobacco is deadly.
Want to know more?
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Last reviewed: February 2013
Content on this website is provided for education and information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. Content has been prepared for Victorian residents and wider Australian audiences, and was accurate at the time of publication. Readers should note that, over time, currency and completeness of the information may change. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.
People who smoke and who have asthma have worse asthma control, more airway damage and faster loss of lung function. Second-hand smoke, or passive smoking, is a trigger for people with asthma, so people with asthma need to avoid smoky places whenever possible.
Content on this website is provided for education and information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your qualified health professional. Content has been prepared for Victorian residence and wider Australian audiences, and was accurate at the time of publication. Readers should note that over time currency and completeness of the information may change. All users are urged to always seek advice from a qualified health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.
For the latest updates and more information, visit www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
Copyight © 1999/2013 State of Victoria. Reproduced from the Better Health Channel (www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au) at no cost with permission of the Victorian Minister for Health. Unauthorised reproduction and other uses comprised in the copyright are prohibited without permission.
