Do you have asthma too? Let's be aware of the serious effects that smoking can have on asthma!

If you have asthma, you probably already know that your lungs are very sensitive and react quickly to things. When you come into contact with something you don't touch (we call these ``triggers''), symptoms like wheezing, coughing, and difficulty breathing can occur. These things can be very annoying sometimes, right?

What is the relationship between smoking and asthma?

Do you really know that the thing that makes it the hardest for someone with asthma, that is, the worst thing that makes asthma worse, is smoking . This is not only cigarettes, cigars, but also pipes, or even `(Vaping)`, which is popular among young people these days, any kind of smoke is very harmful to someone with asthma. Even the smoke that comes out when other people smoke, that is, `(Secondhand Smoke),` has a great chance of increasing your coughing and breathing difficulties. Imagine, if someone smokes a cigarette while you are on a bus, you will also inhale that smoke, right? That's how it affects you.

According to Dr. Rachel Taliercio, a respiratory specialist, smoking is a major cause of asthma exacerbations. So she explains how we can protect ourselves from this smoke.

What happens if you smoke while you have asthma?

Imagine, even if you smoke one or two cigarettes a day, when you inhale that smoke, the harmful substances in it are deposited in the delicate, moist membranes of your airways. So if you are an asthmatic and still smoke, your lungs are constantly under a lot of pressure. In other words, your lungs are constantly "angry." This means that you may experience asthma symptoms more frequently. You are much more likely to have an asthma attack than someone with asthma who does not smoke.

" No matter how little you smoke or vape, it can be very harmful to you and your lungs, " Dr. Talliercio further emphasizes.

In addition to being the main cause of frequent asthma exacerbations, smoking also causes:

• Increased mucus production: This causes harmful substances to accumulate in your airways, making it more difficult to breathe. This is what causes coughing.
• It damages your respiratory tract: Just like rust corrodes a delicate system of pipes, smoke damages your respiratory tract.
• Increases the risk of developing lung cancer and other lung diseases: This is something everyone knows. But this risk is even higher for someone with asthma.

The effects of secondhand smoke on asthma

Even if you don't smoke, secondhand smoke, the smoke that other people breathe, can affect your asthma. Tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals. That's an incredible number, isn't it? 69 of them are known to cause cancer.

Surprisingly, even the remnants of smoke on furniture and clothing (we call this ``Thirdhand Smoke'') can aggravate asthma symptoms and cause respiratory diseases in both adults and children. This means that even after someone has smoked a cigarette in a room, the harmful substances from that cigarette can still linger in that room.

" This is especially true for young children, because their lungs are still small and developing ," says Dr. Talliercio. "Young children are more likely to develop asthma symptoms when exposed to secondhand smoke. Also, children whose mothers smoked during pregnancy are about ten times more likely to develop asthma. "

Think about it, sometimes we unknowingly expose our children to this kind of danger, don't we? If someone in the house smokes, we need to understand how harmful it is for children. It's like suffocating their breath.

Will my asthma get better if I stop smoking?

Now you might be thinking, "Okay, will my asthma be completely cured if I quit smoking?" The truth is, quitting smoking won't completely cure your asthma. Because asthma is often a chronic condition, meaning it's something that's ongoing. But, your symptoms can be significantly reduced. That's a big deal, right?

According to the American Lung Association, when you quit smoking:

• The inflammation in your respiratory tract will decrease.
• Inflammation in the lungs is reduced.
• The risk of further lung damage and the development of other lung diseases is reduced.
• More importantly, the frequency of your asthma attacks will also be greatly reduced.

"When you quit smoking, your sinuses and lungs begin to heal. You will breathe easier and your cough will decrease, perhaps even go away completely," reports Dr. Talliercio. "Because asthma can be a chronic condition, it is important to have regular follow-up visits with your healthcare team to discuss your overall asthma control and the medications you are taking."

How to quit smoking to improve asthma?

We all know that quitting smoking is not easy. It is a habit, so it is difficult to quit all at once. So, if you need help, never be shy about asking for it. Your family doctor or other healthcare provider can provide you with the resources you need. For example, nicotine replacement aids (NREs) such as chewing gums or patches can help you gradually quit the habit.

Once you've decided to quit smoking, tell people you know and trust about your decision. They can then support your efforts and keep you away from things that might get in the way. "If your spouse or other family members smoke, make them aware of the dangers of smoking and encourage them to quit too," advises Dr. Tagliarzio. The home environment is also very important. You're more likely to succeed when you work together than if you're doing it alone.

You can also do these things to improve your asthma and quit smoking completely:

• Get rid of all your cigarettes, vapes, filters, lighters, and ashtrays. Having these in plain sight can make you want to start again.
• Join a support group or class to help you quit smoking. Talking to people who are also trying to quit is a great source of encouragement.
• Avoid situations that make you want to smoke. For example, some people are tempted to smoke when they are with friends or when they are drinking tea. Identify such situations and stay away from them. Instead, practice doing something else.
• Improve your mental and emotional health. Sometimes, stress can also lead to smoking. So find ways to relax.
• Practice mindfulness and deep breathing techniques. This will help you calm your mind and control the urge to smoke.
• Stay active. Things like exercising and walking are good for your physical and mental health. They also improve lung function.

The most important thing to remember is

It's never too late to make a positive change for your health. If your asthma symptoms are making your daily life difficult, quitting smoking can help ease the burden on your lungs and help you breathe more easily.

Don't forget, if you find this journey difficult to go through alone, it's best to seek medical advice. They will help you break this habit according to scientific methods. Your lungs will thank you!

` Smoking, asthma, respiratory disease, lungs, health, cigarettes, quitting