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Smoking causes harm to your body in many different
ways. In fact, it would not be wrong to say that it harms every organ of
the body. In general, it damages the immune system and the risk of
infections increases with smoking. It is a general fact that smokers
tend to be unhealthy than non-smokers.
Millions of people are suffering from asthma all over the world. In the US alone,
more than 20 million people are suffering from it. Smoking is an
exceptional factor that can worsen asthma symptoms. But what is asthma?
Asthma
is an inflammatory chronic lung disease that blocks air flow of the
airways that lead air to the lungs. It blocks the airways by squeezing
the muscles around the airways or by causing swelling and inflammation
on the inside of the air tubes and producing excess mucus. As a result,
it becomes more difficult for the air to go in and come out of the lungs.
Smoking
can be harmful to your body and very much dangerous if you are suffering
from asthma. Your lungs are further affected by smoking. The airways or
the air tubes of a person suffering from asthma are very sensitive and
'twitchy'. They can be easily squeezed down by the smooth muscles that
surround these tubes.
There
are many things which can trigger symptoms of asthma such as coughing,
shortness of breath, wheezing and chest tightness. These irritating
symptoms can trigger an asthma attack. It does not matter whether you
are inhaling tobacco smoke from personal smoking or passive smoking.
Both of them can set off an asthma attack.
The best way to avoid an asthma attack is to quit smoking immediately.
Quitting smoking helps in improving the functioning of the heart whether
you have asthma or not. You should also be careful and sensitive about
people who suffer from asthma by not exposing them to second hand smoke.
Quitting
smoking improves your blood circulation and decreases sinus congestion
and cough. If you are suffering from chronic asthma, you should consult
an allergist or immunologist who is specially trained to treat allergies
and asthma. He or she will work with you to figure out your asthma
triggers and devise a proper management plan to help prevent the
symptoms.
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