Tobacco takes the lives of over eight million people across the world each year. Over seven million lives lost are among those who have directly used tobacco products, but an astonishing 1.2 million people lose their lives every year from exposure to secondhand smoke. On May 31, World No Tobacco Day, the global health community will band together to raise awareness of the dangers of tobacco products and advocate for those struggling with tobacco addiction to seek the professional help they need to reclaim their wellness. This month, we also aim to raise awareness and understanding of two common but dangerous conditions that affect the respiratory system: asthma and allergies.

The Risks and Dangers of Asthma

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the lungs’ airways. Its symptoms include chest tightness, difficulty breathing, coughing, and wheezing. Asthma affects 8.3 percent of Americans, of which 6.1 million are children. Asthma patients take 11 million visits to their doctors’ office each year and account for 1.7 million hospital visits when symptoms exacerbate to the point where patients are heavily struggling to breathe. It is the most common chronic childhood illness and causes 13.8 million missed school days each year.

Asthma and Smoking

For adults and teens with asthma, smoking is particularly dangerous. Similarly, children with asthma who are exposed to secondhand smoke may face severe health complications. Tobacco smoke irritates airways, restricting them and filling them with the same sticky mucus that develops during an asthma attack, increasing the chance of hospitalization and potentially a life-threatening asthma attack.

The Risks and Dangers of Allergies

Allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in America, costing the healthcare system $18 billion each year. More than 50 million people in the United States suffer from allergies. Hay fever, a condition more formally known as allergic rhinitis, is a form of allergies that causes sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose, watery eyes, and itchy eyes, nose, and the roof of the mouth. Hay fever can occur seasonally, particularly during the spring, summer, and fall or throughout the year. Pollen, grasses, weeds, and mold spores are the most common allergy irritants.

Allergies and Smoking

Smoking and exposure to tobacco smoke can worsen allergy symptoms. Smoke can enhance one’s sensitivity to airborne allergy irritants such as mold spores and pollen. Such symptom exacerbation can impact those who directly smoke, are exposed to secondhand smoke, and even unborn children whose mother smokes or is exposed to tobacco smoke.

How to Get Help When You’re Ready to Quit

Smoking can cause heart disease, cancer, stroke, lung diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, certain eye diseases, tuberculosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other immune system complications. In the most severe cases, it can be directly tied to death. If you suffer from allergies or asthma, you face even greater health risks associated with your smoking habit.

The first step to quitting smoking is deciding to value and protect your life and prioritize your wellness. If you are a parent or live with a loved one who is a non-smoker with allergies or asthma, exposure to your secondhand smoke could be putting them at risk of a symptom flare-up that could cause discomfort or even a breathing-related hospitalization. If you need even one more reason to start your smoke-free journey, quit for those in your life who can’t choose for themselves to live a smoke-exposure-free lifestyle.

If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor, or contact smokefree.gov by calling their support team at 800-QUIT-NOW.