By Gwen Simmons

Asthma is a respiratory disease and there has been a lot of research to support the fact that smoking does a lot of damage to the respiratory system. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most important facts as related to asthma and smoking and then we will look into some recent news that offer new-born hope that people with asthma will soon be able to get permanent relief.

Smoking increases risk of asthma attacks by irritating the airways, making them more frequent. It keeps the lungs in poor condition, and symptoms are harder to control. Damaging tobacco substances settle in the lungs and may cause other health problems as well, such as cancer.

Smoking can also make the asthma treatments ineffective, by modifying the inflammatory process to the point of resistance to corticosteroids.

Asthma and smoking – Children

Second hand smoke needs to be avoided as well, as it is a known asthma trigger, and it can be even more dangerous than for the person that smokes. It is especially dangerous for children, as it can interfere with their lung development. Read the rest of this entry »