Quit Smoking – The Best Way to Reduce your Asthma Symptoms

Are you wondering how smoking can affect asthma symptoms? The fact is that tobacco smoke is hugely responsible for triggering asthma symptoms.

I am not the only one to say this! According to the American Lung Association, smoking and secondhand smoking are the leading causes of increasing your asthma symptoms.

Smoking in Asthma Patients

Facts also reveal that 17% of asthma patients who consume tobacco products can experience an increase in asthma symptoms like wheezing and breathlessness.

People with milder symptoms of asthma start smoking, which increases the inflammation and can worsen other asthma symptoms. It becomes difficult for people to quit smoking since they are addicted to nicotine and quitting smoking in one go gets a bit more challenging.

Not only tobacco smoking but smoke produced from wood-burning fireplaces, campfire, and burning leaves can also ignite asthma symptoms.

Are you having a hard time quitting? Read ahead to know how harmful your cigarette smoke is!

What happens when you smoke

Burning tobacco releases more than 7,000 chemicals, out of which 69 are known to cause deadly diseases like cancer. Chemicals released during smoking include formaldehyde, benzene, vinyl, ammonia, arsenic, hydrogen cyanide, etc. are harmful to the lungs and toxic for the environment.

If people around you have asthma, then they are also inhaling all these toxins without them even knowing how harmful it is for them.

Another recent threat is the influx of e-cigarettes – a battery-powered vaporizer that simulates smoking and provides some of the behavioral aspects of smoking, including the hand-to-mouth action of smoking, but without burning tobacco.

To prepare these e-pens, vapes, or e-cigars, nicotine is extracted from tobacco and mixed with a base that comprises a mixture of propylene glycol, formaldehyde, acrolein, along with some coloring and flavoring to make it more appealing.

Smoking can cause asthma symptoms to occur. Want to know how?

When you inhale smoke, some irritation substances settle in the moist lining of your airways and can give you a sudden asthma attack.

With regular inhalation or smoking habit, tiny hair-like substances known as ‘cilia’ gets damaged that helps in removing dust and mucus out from your airway. The smoke causes the lungs to make more mucus which is responsible for triggering the symptoms.

Secondhand smoking comprises the smoke produced from a burning cigar and the smoke inhaled by the smoker. It is shocking to know that ‘passive smoking’ or ‘environmental tobacco smoking’ is more harmful than standard smoking since it contains deadly substances like nicotine and carbon monoxide.

This is dangerous for people who have asthma as it triggers your asthma symptoms without even smoking!

Whenever you experience such inflammation, the first thing that will come to your mind is to stop smoking or vaping.

The good news is that several countries like Singapore, Brazil, Uruguay, Seychelles, and India have already banned the deadly vaping pen while other countries are on the verge of bringing an end to this menace.

How smoking affects your lungs lungs

The tobacco smoke destroys the lung tissue and affects the lungs’ natural defenses to remove dirt and germs.

The continuous inflammation or irritation produced due to smoking changes the cell types in your airways, leading to major chronic diseases like cancer, emphysema, or COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). If a person is suffering from both asthma and COPD, then get immediate specialized treatment.

Preventive measures to improve asthma symptoms

The best way is to quit smoking. Sounds difficult?

Quitting smoking may require multiple attempts. Try choosing professional counseling and medication to increase your chances of quitting. There are five medications offered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that facilitates in quitting smoking. They include:

1. nicotine gum
2. nicotine patches
3. nicotine lozenges (available over the counter)
4. nicotine nasal spray and inhaler (available by prescription)
5. Bupropion SR (Zyban®) and varenicline (Chantix®) (non-nicotine pills)

6 things that will help to improve asthma symptoms

1. Quit smoking
2. Lose weight
3. Speak to your family and friends about the impact of secondhand smoking and raise voice if you find any active smokers around.
4. Monitor your condition at least once in a year and update your asthma action plan from time to time.
5. Educate yourself to recognize your asthma symptoms, triggers, flare-ups, etc.
6. Daily exercise helps in improving lung capacity and promote blood flow to the heart.

Lifestyle changes to improve asthma symptoms

Living with asthma is not at all easy. If you are looking out for some natural remedies to treat asthma, then head down to the below alternatives. A little change in your lifestyle and eating habits can bring a considerable difference.

Disclaimer: Kindly consult your doctor before trying any of these remedies. Also, remember self-treating and delaying asthma treatment can have serious consequences.

1. Avoid Omega Fatty Acids. Arachidonic acid found in egg yolk, meat, and shellfish is known to be primary inflammation-causing fat. You would be surprised to know that Arachidonic acid is also produced in our bodies. To reduce its amounts, increase your intake of beneficial fats like EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) from fish oil, GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) from primrose oil.
2. Increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables. Enhance your intake of tomatoes, carrots, apples, and green leafy vegetables to improve asthma symptoms. Rely on high dietary fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C and manganese.
3. Butterbur. It is a perennial shrub growing in Asia, Europe, and North America, which is believed to reduce smooth muscle spasms and contains anti-inflammatory effects. People allergic to ragweed, marigold, or daisy should avoid butterbur. There might be some side effects like headache, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea, and likewise. Please consult your doctor before taking it.
4. Boswellia. It is an Indian Ayurvedic medicine comprising of Leukotrienes that helps in the narrowing of airways in the lungs. It is also available in pills and has proved to ease asthma symptoms like difficulty in breathing, asthma attacks, and likewise. Side effects may include nausea, acid reflux, or diarrhea.
5. Bromelain. It is an enzyme from pineapples with a wide range of therapeutic benefits. It has anti-inflammatory properties that have proven to reduce airway inflammation in animals suffering from allergic airway disease, according to University of Connecticut. Side effects include allergic reactions and an upset stomach. People allergic to pineapples should refrain from using the above.

When to request immediate treatment

Make a point that you pay attention to these warning signs and get immediate treatment for the same:

• wheezing
• shortness of breath
• sleeping problems
• chest tightness
• frequent coughing (especially at night)
• excessive use of bronchodilators

If you are experiencing any symptoms from the above, rush to your nearest doctor now. Hope the article was helpful.

About Author

Aadarsh Sharma is closely associated with Pranayam Lung and Heart Institute. He is also a fitness expert and is passionate about writing to educate. He is an avid reader and likes to share his thoughts on healthy habits through his highly informative blogs.

Reference

1. https://www.lung.org/lung-health-and-diseases/
2. https://www.healthforlifes.info/
3. https://erj.ersjournals.com/
4. https://www.healthforlifes.info/