Asthma is estimated to affect 600,000 Londoners.

Dr Irem Patel, Joint Clinical Director of Respiratory for NHS London takes a closer look at how smoking could be affecting your asthma.

What is asthma?  

Asthma is a long-term lung condition that can cause breathing difficulties. 

People with asthma have swollen (inflamed) and “sensitive” airways that become narrow and clogged with sticky mucus in response to certain triggers. Smoking is one of these triggers. 

If your asthma is triggered by cigarette smoke, you can experience symptoms like wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing, and chest tightness and inhaling cigarette smoke can make these symptoms worse or lead to an asthma attack. 

How is smoking affecting my asthma?  

If you smoke or breathe in smoke from someone else’s cigarette, it can irritate your airways. This is because there are toxic chemicals in cigarettes which make your airways constrict, affecting the function of your lungs.  

If your asthma is triggered by cigarette smoke, you’re at risk of your symptoms getting worse or an asthma attack. 

It is common for children to develop asthma if living with parents and/or guardians who smoke. If babies or children have asthma, second-hand-smoke can trigger their symptoms.  

Cigarette smoke lingers and can stick to clothes and soft furnishings so it’s a good idea to quit or avoid smoking indoors.  

What are the long-term consequences? 

Beyond the immediate risks such as chest tightness and shortness of breath, smoking tobacco will have a long-term effect on your lung health.  

It can accelerate the decline of your lungs, leading to irreversible damage such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). 

Smoking can also block the effectiveness of asthma medication, making it harder to control symptoms which increases the risk of having an asthma attack. 

If you or a family member has asthma, I’d urge you to quit smoking. Within a year of quitting, you can reduce the amount of phlegm you cough up and increase your lung function by 10% as well as protecting those around you from second-hand smoke. 

I want help to quit smoking  

You are 3x more likely to successfully stop smoking when you combine stop smoking aids such as NRT (Nicotine Replacement Therapy) with behavioural support (counselling and advice) offered by a stop smoking service.  

The majority of stop smoking services in London also provide free medication and treatment plans.  

Find your local stop smoking service here.