What is Asthma?
Asthma is a chronic condition that effect the airways. Generally, people who have asthma do not suffer from it constantly but instead are prone to attacks, or what is generally known as an "Asthma Episode." During such an episode, the bronchial walls tighten. At the same time, the airway produces extra mucus, making it extremely difficult to breath. Asthma attacks can range for a little wheezing in the airways to a life-threatening situation.
Second-Hand Smoke
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) calls second-hand smoke Environmental Tobacco Smoke or ETS for short. The EPA has done extensive research into the effects of second-hand smoke on asthma sufferers and have found that second-hand smoke can prompt an asthma attack. Additionally, the EPA has found that second-hand smoke can contribute to new cases of asthma in children who are exposed to smoking. The root cause of these attacks is related to the smoke's ability to irritate the bronchial passages of the asthma sufferer. When this happens, an attack can occur.
Second-Hand Smoke and Asthma in Children
Because lungs are in their developmental stages, infants and children are uniquely susceptible to a variety of complications caused by second-hand smoke. One of the largest is asthma. Not only does second-hand smoke contribute to the development of asthma in children, it also has a more detrimental affect. The fact that the child's airway is smaller makes it easy for the mucus to clog breathing tubes and trigger a more severe attack.
Consequences of Second-Hand Smoke
When second-hand smoke triggers an asthma attack, the consequences can be quite severe, even causing death in some cases. Because second-hand smoke is more toxic than actually smoking a cigarette, harm to precious clili (hairlike structures in the airway) is more pronounced in persons who inhale second-hand smoke. With the introduction of second-hand smoke, additional mucus is created, which, in the airways of an asthmatic, can lead to increased difficulty in breathing, coughing, and advanced wheezing. Other complications include permanently restricting the air passage as a result of continued exposure to second-hand smoke.
