Smoking Cessation

Smoking Cessation

AllergyCorp Group physicians know the significant impact that smoking has and will make on the lives and health of patients. It is important for our specialists to make an impact on the chronic disease of tobacco addiction because it directly affects the care rendered. By using the standardized tobacco use treatment concept of the 5 A’s (ask, advise, assess, assist, and arrange), our physicians can make a positive impact on reducing US smoking rates and improve patient health. Screening, providing brief counseling, and prescribing first-line smoking cessation medications will help our patients get closer to achieving the national goal laid out in Healthy People 2010 of smoking rates of 12% or less. Contact us today to start getting your asthma or allergic disease under control. We have answers. We can help.

 

Tobacco Smoke

Tobacco smoke is a potent irritant for human airways. Tobacco smoke can travel throughout the home and cause increased symptoms for allergic and asthmatic individuals. Smoke fumes on clothing also can be irritating.

Adverse effects of smoking reported during pregnancy include an increased number of: stillbirths, neonatal death rates, spontaneous abortion, lower birth weights and lower lung function in the newborn. Adverse effects of smoking around children include increased persistent wheezing and asthma, increased rates of hospital admissions for asthma, increased incidence of middle ear infections, increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome, earlier onset of respiratory allergies and decreased lung function.

Asthmatics who smoke are at increased risk for more severe and persistent asthma symptoms as well as an increased likelihood of infections of the respiratory tract such as bronchitis, ear, sinusitis, and upper respiratory tract viral infections.

These infections themselves can trigger and increase asthma symptoms. Any medication prescribed for treatment will not be as effective for those who continue to smoke or who continue to be exposed to tobacco smoke. The biggest risk factor for the development of allergic disease, particularly in early childhood, is passive smoke exposure.

 

The following precautions will reduce adverse effects due to tobacco smoke:

  • Patients with asthma and/or upper airway allergies should not smoke.
  • Patients who do smoke should actively pursue tobacco cessation measures. (Stop Smoking).
  • Patients with allergies and asthma should not be exposed to smoke. There should be no smoking in the house or car.
  • Parents who smoke and have children with allergies and asthma should actively pursue tobacco cessation measures. (Stop Smoking).
  • Contact us today to start getting your asthma or allergic disease under control. We have answers. We can help.

Controlling Environmental Tobacco Smoke

If the asthmatic or allergic person smokes, he or she should make every effort to quit. Our physicians will be happy to provide you with information about smoking cessation aids.

  • Smoking family members should be advised to quit smoking completely.
  • If the household smoker is unable to stop smoking, all smoking should be done outside of the home.
  • If weather or other factors prevent smoking outdoors, smoke in a separately ventilated room with the asthmatic or allergic family member out of that room for the next several days.
  • Forbid smoking in the family car at all times.
  • Visitors to the home should not be allowed to smoke in the home.
  • Places that the asthmatic or allergic patient spends time at should be smoke free (day care, school, employment, for examples).