Tobacco Cessation: Not Smoking - Smoking and Childhood Asthma
Smoking and Childhood Asthma
Asthma is a common problem in infants and children. The most common symptoms include episodes of coughing, wheezing and difficulty breathing, although some children just have coughing and don't wheeze with each episode. Although it is not known what causes asthma, children with asthma have attacks triggered by things like fumes and smoke. Therefore, children who live with a smoker are at higher risk for these health problems.
Children with asthma who live in smoke-filled homes have more asthma attacks, need more medications, and go to the emergency room more than other asthma patients their age. Secondhand smoke may also cause healthy children to develop asthma. These children are also at increased risk for bronchitis and pneumonia, which can lead to hospitalization. Infants exposed to secondhand smoke are also known to develop more lung and middle ear infections.
Obviously, nobody should be smoking around young children, especially children who already have asthma. Here are ways to reduce the risk of secondhand smoke to your children with asthma:
- Choose not to smoke in your home and car, and don't permit others to do so.
- Choose not to smoke around any children, especially infants and toddlers. They are even more sensitive to the effects of secondhand smoke.
- Find out the smoking policies of your child's day care and preschool providers.
- Help other parents understand the health risks to all children from secondhand smoke.
As a parent, you can limit your children's exposure to secondhand smoke to minimize asthma attacks. As always, the first and most important steps should begin at home - by quitting smoking yourself, if you are a smoker. Quitting is seldom easy, but it is possible. Smoking-cessation counseling and programs and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) are available. Talk with your personal care physician (PCP) about your stop-smoking options.
Remember that children exposed to secondhand smoke are at risk for serious illness. Protect your children with asthma from secondhand smoke. Their health depends on it.
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