Smoking can damage the lungs – it is a fact that we are all well acquainted with. But smoking can do something else too – it can cause asthma attacks.

When a person smokes, they can inhale irritating substances that settle in the mist lining of the airways. The airways become narrow and swollen, and produce more mucus than usual. The mucus can then block the air passages, and reduce airflows. This in turn creates a shortness of breath, thus triggering asthma attacks.

Smoking is not only dangerous for the smoker, but can also cause damage to other people who inhale the smoke. Known as passive smokers ( or second-hand smokers), this kind of smoke can also trigger asthma in people. It is especially harmful to children, because they have already narrow airways that are swollen further when second-hand smoke is inhaled.

Smoking can have devastating effects on the unborn baby inside a mother who smokes. The nicotine, the additive substance in tobacco, is carried directly to the child by the bloodstream of the mother.  These children are 10 times more likely to develop asthma and other respiratory and lung diseases.

Quitting smoking can eliminate one of the factors that can trigger asthma. It will not only protect the smoker, but will also help other asthmatic patients or patients who are susceptible to smoke and asthma, too.