Allergic to Cigarette Smoke?
86
When you catch a whiff of tobacco smoke, do you cringe in anticipation? Perhaps the first thing to cross your mind is the unpleasant memory of your last clash with secondhand smoke and the runny nose, sneezing, and congestion that followed. For some, the reaction to cigarette smoke closely resembles an allergic reaction, which leads them to believe that they have "smoke allergies".
Did you know that some of the popular myths concerning "smoke allergies" might actually be getting in the way of properly treating your condition? This article will help you tell if determine whether you are affected by "smoke allergies" and what you can do to better protect yourself from the illnesses associated with smoke exposure.
#1 Myth: "Allergic to Smoke”
No one really is allergic to smoke. Many people insist that they are allergic to smoke created by cigarettes or cigars, but the truth is that they have having an allergy-like reaction due to other health complications. Understanding exactly why you feel like you are having allergy attack when around a smoker is the key to understanding how to prevent symptoms in the future.
Smoke technically is not an allergen, but an irritant. This explains most people feel no relief when they take antihistamine allergy after exposure to smoke. The key to avoiding the problems caused by cigarette smoke is determining what type of sensitivity you have and how best to treat it.
So, Who is Prone to “Smoke Allergies”?
- Children and Infants
- Elderly Persons
- People with allergy history (anyone with allergies, asthma, eczema, etc)
- People exposed to heavy smoke for long periods of time
Sometimes people who are sensitive to tobacco smoke will also experience allergy-like symptoms when they encounter strong odors, perfumes, weather changes or temperature changes.
Symptoms of Cigarette Sensitivity
For some people, exposure to tobacco smoke can cause a list of symptoms:
Sneezing
Coughing
Watery, burning eyes
Runny nose
Post nasal drip
Congestion
Shortness of breath
Headache
For many people, these symptoms appear shortly after exposure to cigarette smoke and last for hours afterward. In addition to these symptoms, individuals exposed to smoke on a daily basis are more likely to experience constant respiratory infections like sinusitis and bronchitis as well as the development of wheezing and asthma.
Tobacco Smoke Exposure
A burning cigarette is capable of releasing over 4,000 different chemicals into the air (and 80 of these are known or suspected carcinogens). For some, avoiding situations with smoke is almost impossible. Often a family member will smoke indoors, or a public place like a bar or restaurant will allow smoking. Depending on the severity of your reaction, sometimes the residual smoke scent on another person's clothing or in a room where someone had smoked in the past can cause irritation. So, even though avoidance of tobacco smoke is the best method to prevent "smoke allergies", it may not be a practical solution.
Two Main Types of Smoke Sensitivity
In order to truly treat the reaction to smoke, you have to identify what sort of sensitivity you are experiencing. There are two forms of smoke sensitivity:
-
Smoke Aggravating Underlying Allergies: your body is weakened by smoke and begins reacting to all the tiny bits of pollen, dust and dander that usually would not have been a problem.
- Vasomotor Rhinitis: this is a condition that has all the same symptoms as allergic rhinitis (or nasal allergies), but cannot be treated by antihistamine allergy medicine.
Smoke-Aggravated Allergies:
Allergens are small particles that are made up of proteins that the body has mistaken for a dangerous intruder like a virus or other germ. Smoke contains tiny tar ash particles (that form a white cloud as the tobacco burns), but these are not the same as a true allergen because they are not protein based.
Smoke particles are classified as an irritant, which can cause you quite a bit of discomfort, worsen illnesses like asthma and allergies, and cause other serious health problems. So, no one can truly be allergic to smoke, but they may actually be suffering from a complication of their existing allergies or another illness.
If you have allergies or allergic asthma, smoke can trigger an allergic reaction because it is putting an extra strain on your body and immune system. The speck of cat dander drifting through the air might not have usually set off a violent reaction, but with the addition of tobacco smoke, your body can no longer handle the allergens. Asthma becomes dangerous when mixed with exposure to tobacco smoke-even deadly for some.
You are likely to experience complications to existing allergies if:
- You know that you are allergic to other things like pollen, pets, mold or dust mites.
- You have eczema or food allergies.
Treatment
- Avoid as many situations as you can where you are exposed to smoke.
- See an allergist to optimize your existing allergy treatment, or see if you have developed new allergies.
- Run an air purifier to reduce the number of allergens in the air. Even a smaller, portable air filter like IQ Air's HealthPro is effective at removing allergens in guest rooms of smoking family members.
Vasomotor Rhinitis:
This is a form of inflammation and irritation of the nasal area as well as the throat and eyes. Seasonal or indoor allergies are called "allergic rhinitis". Vasomotor rhinitis is different from the allergic type because it is not caused by allergens and is sometimes called "non-allergic rhinitis". It causes many of the same symptoms that an allergic reaction would, but is caused by highly sensitive or excessive amounts of blood vessels in the delicate tissue of the sinus area. The symptoms you experience are triggered by your nervous system rather than allergens.
This means that while another person may be able to tolerate a certain amounts of cigarette smoke, a person with vasomotor rhinitis will experience significant discomfort with the same amount of smoke. So you are not overreacting when you complain about small amounts of smoke - these small amounts REALLY ARE affecting you more severely than those around you.
In addition to cigarette smoke, often strong odors or weather conditions will also cause symptoms, so you may find that many aspects of your environment cause allergy-like symptoms. Some individuals will actually experience allergic rhinitis and vasomotor rhinitis simultaneously.
You are likely to have vasomotor rhinitis if:
- You are highly sensitive to other elements like perfume, strong odors, changes in weather, changes in temperature, or even spicy foods.
- Walking into a slightly warmer (or cooler) room makes your nose runny or feel completely dry.
- Antihistamine medications do not alleviate the symptoms.
Treatment
- Avoid as many situations as possible where your condition might be aggravated-this includes smoke, as well as some of the other vasomotor rhinitis triggers like wearing perfume, using scented candles, etc.
- Talk to your doctor about treatment options. Some over the counter medications like oral decongestants and saline nasal sprays may offer you some relief. Some prescription medications that have been proven effective are antihistamine nasal sprays (as opposed to oral antihistamines which typically have no effect on vasomotor rhinitis), anti-drip anticholinergic nasal sprays and corticosteroid nasal sprays.
- Limit your exposure to smoke and smoke odor as this is often the cause of many vasomotor rhinitis cases. Use an air purifier to minimize airborne pollutants.
A Note to Those with Existing Allergies:
Inhaling even small amounts of smoke over a long period of time can actually cause you to develop new allergies or even asthma. In young children, second hand tobacco smoke inhalation greatly increases the likeliness of developing allergies when they get older. If you live with a smoker, you are likely to have more cases of bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, and other respiratory illnesses.
The best thing you can do for yourself make your living space a zero-tolerance smoke area. If this is not an option and you are stuck living with a smoker, you might want to consider a home smoke eater in the room with the smoker as an investment in your health. Smoke drifts wherever the air in the home takes it. While nothing is instant or perfect, anything you can do to minimize the amount of smoke in the air will help.
Some of the symptoms of sinusitis (sinus infection) can closely resemble the vasomotor rhinitis and allergic rhinitis described in this article. Be sure to see your doctor to help you diagnose your condition if tobacco smoke has you feeling under the weather.
For more information about the full effect that tobacco smoke has on you, your home and your finances, see my Effects of Smoking hub.
vote upvote downshareprintflag
- Useful (16)
- Funny (2)
- Awesome (2)
- Beautiful
- Interesting (1)
CommentsLoading...
David, you CAN NOT be allergic to smoke itself. However, smoking does weaken your immune system temporarily, which could cause your body to react to other things in the air you may be allergic too. This webpage is FULL of spelling and grammar mistakes, so I'm not sure how valid it is, but the majority of the information is true. There is no way to actually be allergic to the smoke itself, and anyone who says they are is making up an excuse.
Thanks for such an informative article.
It is correct that one cannot have an allergy to smoke itself. As the article states, smoke is an irritant that can aggravate other things, such as asthma and cause bad reactions. I should know, I am an asthmatic.. Perfume and smoke both are irritants that can cause an asthma attack, but I don't go around saying that I am 'allergic' to these things.. I know they can trigger my attacks.. I think it's important to note the difference. Those that spout off that they are allergic to perfumes and smoke sound silly to those that are really informed in this area.
"Allergen" or "Irritant" doesn't really matter to me--they both have the SAME effects. Either name you call it, it causes my son to have a severe asthma attack. When I say "severe", I mean his skin turns blue, the ambulance is called, he's rushed to the ER and is hopitalized for several days before returning to normal. It's not an excuse for anything. It is a very real, very dangerous medical condition.
All of that from walking out of a business where a smoker feels the need to stand right outside the doorway and smoke. Or watching a parade and they guy next to you lighting up. Or stopped at a stoplight and the guy next to you hangs his cigarette out the window. I could go on and on......
We do everything we can do avoid ANY exposure to the second-hand smoke, but sometimes, it really is impossible outside being trapped inside your own home.
The fact that the symptoms are the same does not mean the problem is the same. This article is correct in identifying this fact. An allergy attack is an IgE mediated immune response to an allergen. Vasomotor rhinitis is a nervous system response. Cigarette smoke is an irritant that triggers the nervous system response and must be treated differently. I suffer from vasomotor rhinitis and I can testify that antihistamines do absolutely nothing to mitigate the effects of even a tiny amount of cigarette smoke. I have to take nose spray and saline as well as a nasal decongestant every day just to get a moderate amount of relief. The only way to solve the problem would be to ban cigarette smoking and, believe me, I would definitely support that.
What a load of rubbish !!!! How dare you say that you can not be allergic to cigarette smoke... okay smoke in itself is an irritant but what causes the allergic reaction is the chemicals in the smoke. There are something like 4000 chemicals in cigarette smoke including arensic, formalderhyde, carbon monoxide... all these can cause an allergic reaction to certain individuals which is separate to the smoke itself being an irritant to those who suffer from rhinitis or sinusitis.
Very informitive!
I was metting with the landlords of our building Sunday and 1 wiff of their smoking My sinuses blocked, ran and I started to sneeze and cough. True allergy or not it sure felt like an allergic reaction.
I'm a smoker and cirette smoke makes me sneeze. I know i am alergic to it, or the chemicals in it either way a very informative hub. Nice work.
heres how it goes with me. I was raised in a family with parents that smoked a carton of cigarrettes a week each and we had wood heat also. I'm married now and do not, nor have i ever smoked, but when I go to see my parients and visit I always end up with brochitis sick for a week. so wats the deal? ideas anyone? i need to see my family without getting sick
I have a reaction to all smoke, someone smoking, house burning, fire place, candle, any sent, anywhere where smoke used to be, anything. if i'm not allergic how do you explain it? i do not smoke nor have i ever smoked. i have sinus infections that turn into worse infections even with treatment. doc just tells me to avoid smoke. easier said than done. it is winter everyone is buring fire places i cant avoid it. i take a nasal spray and zyrtec every day. doesn't help what am i supposed to do? i can't live like this i'm only 22 and it keeps getting worse the older i get. i used to could be around smoke but only for a short time period as long as its not much. now i can't even ride in a friends car who smokes but has not smoked for days or weeks without having a sinus infection the next day. was driving down the road and a house was on fire had to drive thru the smoke work up with an upper respiratory infection the NEXT morning. what else is it other than a smoke allergy?
Stephanie:
It is very possible that you have chemical sensitivity or underlying allergy that is aggravated by smoke inhalation, or even vasomotor rhinitis. Technically, cigarette (or any other type of smoke) lacks the protein element that would make it a true allergen. It's the protein in pollen, animal dander, mold spores, etc., that your body reacts to during an allergy/asthma attack.
As my article suggests, this doesn't mean that smoke WON'T cause a lot of irritation (not to mention some other serious conditions) - but you won't be able to treat "smoke allergies" with most allergy medications. Allergy medications are made to interrupt the chemical reaction caused when the proteins in allergens come in contact with mast cells in the skin lining your nose, throat and eyes.
Your sinus infections and upper respiratory infections are most likely linked - after the infection starts in your sinuses, post nasal drip will cause the bacteria to migrate down your throat to your bronchial tubes and lungs. I have the same problem and find that a neti pot really helps prevent sinus infections. When I feel a sinus headache coming on (or was just exposed to smoke, etc), I use the neti pot for a few days until the pressure subsides. It's a natural way to reduce the bacteria causing the infection and soothe the inflammation. It's not the most pleasant thing in the world, but it might be worth trying for your situation.
Just remember that it is always best to consult a doctor - especially if your medications aren't helping your symptoms. For more info on the illnesses mistaken for smoke allergies, read my other smoke allergies article: http://hubpages.com/hub/Smoke-Allergies-4-Reasons-
Wow, this makes sense to me now- now I know why antihistimanes don't work when I am exposed to cigarette smoke.
Allergic to Cigarette Smoke
I think this hub is the anti-anti-toxin to anxiety! Help, the verbosity of it is making me anxious!
Has anyone mentioned that it is a proven fact that cigarette smoke causes cancer ? How about the 400 known toxins in tobacco smoke? Anyone care to deny that? Whether smoke is an allergen or an irritant, it reeks havoc on non-smokers, the ones who choose not to smoke. I don't think the argument should be whether or not it is an allergen. As a person who has "reactions" to cigarette smoke, it makes me utterly sick. If I am exposed to cigarette smoke, I will absoutely develop a sinus infection shortly after. If I have to sit near people who have recently put their cigarettes out, I get an almost immediate, severe headache. Many states are going to smoking bans in public places. Is it any wonder why? Sure, it's your personal right to smoke, but if you choose too, accept that your bi-product is harmful to those around you. Don't pretend that it doesn't affect anyone else around you. It does.
Thanks to this website info, I am aware of what I have. It is a sad sad truth. I feel so terrible for "Proud Mom" that is just awful! I run when someone lights up around me, or I can smell a smoker from a mile away, I can smell anything for miles, I thought before I just had a super-sense for smell! I dont quite get headaches like other people had mentioned, but I get a good stomach ache and or soreness, kind of like someone just punched me in it, along with a cough. Sigh, Thanks for reading this.
I'm seeing an allergist on monday and will ask him about my 'reactions' to people around me who smoke including the tennants who live around apartment units which ugh everytime I am around a ciggy smoker I lose my voice as in get largynitis (more they smoke the more my throat gets irritated to end up clearing it continously so bad that i'm coughing to gagging reflex just like the other member posted. Even the smell of smoke left in ashtray at the mall or a ashcan for the mall makes me puke.
This apartment is definetly nice place but i may have to find a non-tolerance smoking area because I know it affects me big time . When I was in california where there was no one at all smoking (no coughing or clearing throats) in restaurants or around apartment areas .
It is obvious that smoking is bad for EVERYONE exposed to it..so how do you get someone to quit???
I'm under 18 so I have to live with my parents - my mom smokes and is starting to smoke more and more! I think she is having some sort of reaction to the smoking now, too because she has been sick for a week now. She has been to the doctor twice and all they said was it was something to do with sinuses or something..like with allergies. She's been taking all kinds of medicines, but nothing is working. She gets severe head aches that leave her in tears - (and this is the ridiculous part) so she LIGHTS UP A CIGARETTE thinking it actually helps with her headaches!
My whole life I have been incredibly sensitive about the smoke; I would ask the other people around me if it bothered them like it does me..they said it doesn't bother them at all. I get severe head aches, stomach aches/nausea, coughing, sometimes sneezing, dry or itchy/watery eyes, etc.. but my mom absoultely refuses to quit smoking! She won't even talk about it!
Is there anyway to help her quit smoking without buying everything off the market??? I really can't take it anymore; every time she lights a cigarette I go nuts and everything leads to a huge fight..just a little while ago I said some really awful things..I just want my mom to quit sucking on those cancer sticks..
If cigarette smoke is so harmful to non-smokers... then why isn't public smoking ILLEGAL?
In one word - Politics. THAT is why smoking isn't illegal. The tobacco industry has a very powerful lobby in Washington and contributes tons of both contributions and taxes into this country.
Allowing cigarettes to remain on the market isn't in the publics best interest - but then again, I'm not convinced that is always our governments first priority.
Samantha, if you are still reading, there are some states that will enforce "no smoking around minors" (under 18) through the courts. This usually happens in divorce and/or custody cases, and the numbers are increasing because of the health issues children face when subjected to second hand smoke. Possibly you could speak to your school counselor to be pointed in the right direction in your state??? Good luck. I agree with webdan65, you can't convince her to stop, so you must try to protect yourself.
Smoke is an irritant for some, but chemicals in certain cigarettes, not all, definitely do cause a systemic allergic reaction for me. I've gone into anaphylactic shock twice, hospitalized and put on oxygen, given an epi pen to carry at all times, each exposure lessening the body's reaction time to the chemicals emitted. I don't have to smell smoke at all, and usually don't--all a person has to do, who is a smoker, is walk past me and I get an immediate headache and feel like someone punched me in the stomach. If I get a full exposure to cigarette smoke, I get an instant headache, nausea, and my face reddens and swells (and I can't breathe if I can't get away from the toxins), I itch all over and it feels like I itch thoughout my internal body, my right sinus begins bleeding in a few hours and I remain with a severe unabating migraine/headache, rhinitis and nausea usually for three weeks and am fighting a sinus infection. Some European cigarettes and American Eagles (?), those cigarettes which are mainly tobacco without being laden with chemicals don't bother me at all or only cause mild irritation. I now irrigate nasally daily with saline solution and take a steroid spray twice daily to help for unexpected exposure, and it does help, My nasal passages don't swell shut as quickly. But even with that, I am "sicker than a dog" becoming increasingly ill and within three weeks of being around people, such as in a college classroom setting, the reaction to the chemicals in the cigarette smoke from people walking by, or having to walk through smoke at the entrances, it seems to short circuit my brain to where I can't concentrate at all. I was exposed to heavy smoke from open burn pits where everything was burned, in Iraq, and co-workers were permitted to smoke both in the work areas and in front of the work van doors. Requesting smokers to have a smoke area away from non-smokers was ridiculed and ignored. The combination of burn pit and daily cigarette smoke made my brain feel as though it was inflamed. I believe that the chemicals in smoke poison one's internal body. With food allergies, it is easy to avoid a known allergen. We often cannot avoid, however, the air we breathe! Unless we become a totally, isolated, recluse.... One doctor said that I probably would die from exposure to cigarette smoke due to (documented) systemic reaction, that it is imperative for me to completely avoid cigarette smokers and the toxic (chemical-laden) smoke.
<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Latha; panose-1:2 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:1; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:1048576 0 0 0 0 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:Latha;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} -->
From India….
I had sneezing problem in my school age. my brother also have same problem.
My father is chain smoker. I take tablet with help of doctor’s advice but problem not solved, again take table after 1 week. Before 3years I started smoke and drinking. Now days not have sneezing problem.
It’s come rarely. (Because of climate changes,…)
But my have serious problem taking tablet daily.
What is solution for my brother and me?
Thanks for doing this hubpost. It's helped me to identify more precisely what my 'allergy' to cigarette smoke is. People think i'm exaggerating all the time, when i'm not and the doctors don't do much about it.
I am someone who has never smoked before, nor been in a family who smokes. The smell of smoke and other irritants have always bothered me, but usually didn't cause me to experience debilitating symptoms. The old I get, the worse it gets. (I'm now 59). All it takes is for me to walk past someone who may have a smoke odor on their clothing, and within a minute or two, at the most, I start a migraine, have nasal congestion, and now get severe laryngitis. I can lose my voice completely within seconds, where I can hardly even whisper. I have just come off prednisone for a severe prolonged attack of laryngitis, and two days later walked past someone who wasn't smoking at that time, but had a mild smoke odor on them. Now, my voice is again gone. It's so frustrating. Does anyone know why the laryngitis, and what can be done to help the situation?
Hello Priscilla - I too suffered from a smoke triggered loss of voice. It was virtually instant. I had asthma as a young girl (from 4-6 years old) and then it returned when I was 18 (went to University). After the various allergy tests, dust serum weekly, 4 types of asthma medication, etc.....I finally stopped taking everything (as I was getting a new doctor and hadnt been getting any relief). I also changed careers at the same time.
Fast forward to today (8 months later) and I am pleased to report that with a positive mindset, I am free of breathing troubles and smoke is not a vocal loss/poor breathing trigger for me any longer. I wouldnt have believed that stress could have had that much control on my body or fooled me that much.....but I believe now that it did.
The panic precipitated further breathing troubles but the smoke was the trigger that started it all. Apparently stress is a VERY strong force.
Good luck in finding your solutions - I hope they arrive for you as well as they have for me.
Oh, and i'm 39 now and have never smoked.
Please. I bet in a blind test, with people having their sense of smell taken away (or limited) and the smoke being invisible, that the majority of people who said they had an "allergic reaction" would be quite low. I'd say most of the people who have an "allergic reaction" just hate cigarettes so much that their body becomes uptight when they small smoke.
ty ty very much :)
Smoke triggers asthma attacks for me. I could care less if it is an alergen or not. It is danagerous and has caused me to be hopitalized. I can't even hug someone who is wearing clothing exposed to smoke without hiving out and wheezing. I ended up moving to a smoke free state when I graduated from college so I could go to restaraunts. Lets not forget second hand smoke is harmful whether or not it triggers asthma.
Just stumbled on this. It is interesting that my reaction to smoking is not an allergic reaction. It makes me think that what I have can't be treated at all, which is a bit depressing. I don't have the same extreme reaction some people have to smoke - I have never had an attack that put me in hospital, but my headaches and congestion last for an hour or two after getting around smoke so I try to avoid smokers in restaurants and public places.
My problem now is that smoke is getting into my home. I just moved to San Diego from Chicago and was looking forward to living in a climate where I could have windows open all year round. But my neighbors in the adjoined condo next door smoke on their back patio around the clock - and the husband even works from home so he is literally smoking all day long. I keep my windows closed almost all the time now (it makes me wonder why I spent thousands of dollars and changed jobs to live in a moderate climate) but the air and furniture in my condo smells of smoke and I get headaches just thinking about going home. I don't know if it is coming in through cracks or vents but there is a constant light breeze blowing from their direction and instead of this being a blessing it is a curse because it carries all of their smoke my way. I talked to them very politely, asking if they could please move their smoking to their side patio which faces the street and is not close to any other condos, but they refused and the husband even yelled at me to f-off. I tried to tell them that the smoke wakes me up in the morning and makes me sick and is ruining all of my things, but they didn't want the inconvenience of lighting up on their other patio which adjoins to their bedroom instead of the living room. I didn't know how to talk to people like that - who think that it's okay to ruin someone else's life for their own convenience... sorry I know this is not a piece on smoking neighbors :)
Interesting article.
Fran, I wonder if there is some different way to approach your neigbors. Could it be misunderstanding rather than disregard? I am a smoker who is also sensitive to smoke, so I'm coming from a strange perspective, perhaps. Even if it is disregard, consider that the nonsmokers who complain and impose without reason ruin it for those who have a valid issue. As one example, it bothers me that I have to stand in the rain to smoke (at home and at work) because there is no covered area where I am "allowed" to smoke. Surely in all the many square feet of outdoors, there could be some little area for a smoker to smoke without getting soaked? A nonsmoker blanketly assuming that smokers are just "inconsiderate" is very hypocritical; the inconveniences go both ways, not just against the nonsmoker. Perhaps if smokers didn't feel like the nonsmokers were being so rude and inconsiderate, they would be more inclined to make extra consideration for those who are bothered by their smoke. It is awful to have your house smell like smoke. I hope you can find a solution soon and start enjoying that nice weather!
I had an ALLERGIST tell me that I'm allergic to cigarette smoke. A DOCTOR, not someone writing an article poorly without any references provided to back up the information provided. I'll go with what my doctor, an allergy specialist, had to say over this unsubstantiated piece.
River,
Smoke is considered an irritant for allergies and asthma - there's no arguing with that. It sets off an allergic reaction because it is irritating the underlying condition.
If you find that smoke creates an allergy-like reaction, you might just be irritating and affecting your underlying allergies or you might have vasomotor rhinitis (non allergic rhinitis. Some people actually have both allergic rhinitis and vasomotor rhinitis at the same time.
Here are some quick quotes from a few of my reputable sources:
"One-third of chronic sneezers and wheezers suffering allergy- like symptoms actually suffer from non-allergic vasomotor rhinitis or VMR, which exhibits the same stuffiness, sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose and post-nasal drip that allergies produce . . . The problem isn't necessarily allergies. An irritant such as cigarette smoke or cleaning agents can be the trigger."
- American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI is *the* authority on allergic disease in the US)
"While tobacco smoke and wood smoke are not true allergens, they can cause nasal symptoms in patients with inhalant allergies."
- ClevelandClinic.org
"Cigarette smoke allergy refers to an adverse reaction by the body to cigarette smoke. Cigarette smoke allergy is not considered a true allergy but a sensitivity as the smoke is an irritant rather than an allergen. People with other allergies tend to be more sensitive to cigarette smoke. "
- WrongDiagnosis.com
The American Academy of Family Medicine breaks triggers down into 7 different groups - one for true allergens like dust mites and dander and a different one for irritants that includes tobacco smoke and air pollution. Even Wikipedia has a really good breakdown of vasomotor rhinitis and the irritants that cause it.
There is a lot of information out there on this topic - but your allergist is right, smoke is going to cause allergic reactions through irritation if you have allergic allergies. For people with non-allergic rhinitis, they are not going to get any relief by taking allergy medicine since there is no allergic cascade taking place.
I dont think I agree that cigarette smoke cannot cause an allergic reaction. When I was a kid I was exposed to secondhand cigarette smoke and the next day I woke up with a swollen red face which later developed to the point where my eyes were swollen shut. When I went to a dermatologist he also confirmed that it was an allergic reaction.
Isnt it funny how all these militant anti smokers come out on here with their "claims" of smoke allergies?
Anyone use ANY common sense anymore?
Why was this not a problem in the 50's, 60's and 70's?
Its a FRAUD and people who claim they are allergic to smoke are FRAUDSTERS (or clinically insane)
I love the morons that start coughing when they SEE someone holding an unlit ciggarette lol
Got any issues there buddy?
Ok so here is the deal....I can be around any kind of smoke there is and I actually enjoy the aroma and everything....except for cigarettes....even cigars are fine.
I have found that heavier cigarettes will usually be much worse than the lite ones. My throat instantly closes up, that is the scary part.
Tonight I went to the casino and someone walking by the table that I was sitting at just decided to put their cigarette in the ash tray sitting at my seat...thanks for that you MOTHER F*$#ER.
Anyways, I put up with it for about 2 minutes and then cashed out and ran for the door as quickly as possible. It is now 6 hours later and I still cannot breathe too well.
My personal belief is that the added chemicals to the cigarettes (you know, all that terrible crap) is what is causing it for me.
The little cigars that look like cigarettes will often have the same effect as cigarettes for me as well. I know those ones have the chemicals in them too because they will continue to burn like a cigarette even when you are not smoking them.
Gandu, I don't care if you smoke or you don't smoke, just don't do it around us that want to breathe. If you believe everyone posting their stories of allergic reactions to cigarettes are frauds, don't you have something better to do with your time? How sad. I AM allergic to cigarette smoke, so stick that in your pipe and smoke it. Are all of the physicians who diagnose people with smoke allergies nuts also ?? So only the smokers are the sane ones, correct? Yes, that makes complete sense. The people with the "addiction" are of the correct opinion, and it is the "unaddicted" ones who have the problem.
Gandu says:
"I love the morons that start coughing when they SEE someone holding an unlit ciggarette lol"
My Aunt does that... before a cigarette is even lit, she will cover her mouth and start coughing and gagging, yelling "I can't breathe!". LMAO
I work in a hotel, and it seems EVERY TIME a non-smoker gets a room where someone has smoked, they claim a cigarette smoke allergy.
I completely understand the dislike of cigarette smoke odor, but seriously... not every non-smoker is allergic! Stress and/or fear can cause a reaction similar to an allergic reaction (headaches, stomach aches, dizziness, sore throat, etc).
Steff, it's not the smell of it really...there is something in cigarettes that makes my throat close up. Other smoke doesn't do it. I don't have any problems with people smoking.
I do hate it when people who smoke believe that since they can handle the smoke so can every one else around them.
People are going to be different, and I am pretty sure it is possible to be allergic to 1 of the 4,000 different chemicals inside cigarettes.
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002229.htm
I agree with the comment about stress and mental illness causing your reations to smoke. You are hearing from M.D.'s that smoke is not an allergen but you keep insisting you are allergic to it. 20, 30, 40 years ago people believed in freedom in America. I wish all the uptight judgemental " oh smoke just ruins my life" would move to a communist country where they belong. Quit looking down on smokers and take a look at yourself in the mirror. There are so many other things I am sure you can find to pick on people about. Suck it up and walk it out!!!!
Well - Freedom is a double edge sword. One might argue that people should be free to breathe clean air without having to smell or inhale smoke.
I'm not allergic and don't claim to have life threatening reactions to smoke. But I should still be FREE enough to not like it and not expect it in my space.
Back before smoke was banned from work places, I sat next to a woman who smoked. All day long I had to suffer her cigarette smoke wafting over into my desk area.
Did it make me sick? Nope. But it was still downright uncomfortable and unpleasant.
Smoke all you want. Just don't force others to breathe the smoke too.
I was disappointed that you would not cover the chemicals in that smoke and the high probability of allergy to those. I had a filtrette on a fan in my apartment. I took a 4" square to a lab and they found nicotine. Do you know how hard that is. Second hand smoke is not just smoke, so please give us the entire picture. Formaldehyde is another chemical and an allergen. We can go on another 4,000 x
While most of information is correct and useful it is simply not true to state that it is impossible to be allergic to smoke. There are actually 3 different types of allergies and smoke falls into one of those three types, however, it is not the same type that most of are used to, such as dust or pollen. You should see an Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist or an Allergist if you have any questions about this sort of thing. It is especially important to do so because the research is constantly uncovering new data concerning such things and because someone that writes an essay and throws in some photos is usually biased.
I am very distressed over my increased reactions to cigarette second hand smoke (toxins). I have found that now upon just entering the house of a smoker, I can become extremely unwell afterwards. Even if the smoker goes outside to smoke, or leans out an open window. I still get ill, so I imagine the residue build up on the clothes/hair etc starts to build up in the house itself.
What happens to me? I don't notice as much as it is happening, except I feel more hyped up, heart racing etc. It is later that things kick in when my body attempts to try and expel it. I get nausea, headaches, puffy eyes, nasal congestion, cramping in the stomach, itching in the face, depression, drooling etc. Then my body will go into a kind of attempt to detox. So I start crying excessively, salivating and rashes come up.
If this was just mere "allergy" the symptoms would dissipate not too long after exposure has stopped. Yet the symptoms for me continue long after I have been away from the smoker's house. I will only improve if my body is able to expel the toxins I have been exposed to. This can take weeks and even months before improvement is noted.
I do not know what has brought this on. Yes, I have always been somewhat sensitive to things, but now I am basically totally intolerant to it and suffer for ages after exposure. I have the same problem upon entering a dental office because of exposure to mercury vapor. I suffer again sometimes for months following. Yes there is more amiss for this to happen to me and I'm aware of that. And certainly other people do not always believe me completely about such reactions because they seem ridiculous/extreme and unlikely. So all I can do is eat well, take supplements and try and avoid entering the house of a smoker, because so far I have found nothing that prevents this from happening. And I am devastated by it because I cannot even see people I would love to see!
I recently started a job that I love, but have a major problem that may cause me to have to leave it. I work in an office with a Doctor, who, between patient visits, goes to the back room to smoke. I have a constant headache at work and my nose bleeds at home. I have always hated smoke and always get instant headaches from it. How can I approach my boss with my issue. This is the most difficult thing I have had to ever deal with. After all, it is his business, but he reeks of smoke and so does the air. Help?
To "Can't Breathe":
Have a sit down with the doctor and tell him that you may not be able to continue working there because the smoke is making you sick. He's a doctor so he should understand that it is unpleasant and unhealthy for people and frankly his practice to have a place reek like smoke.
Tell him to check out HomeSmokeEater.com. One of those machines in the back room where he smokes will make a BIG difference in the air quality in the doctors office.
Benefits for him:
Not losing an employee.
Minimizing the odors in the office which probably affect patients too.
Overall healthier environment for himself as well as the staff.
You didn't mention whether or not smoking is legal in work places in your state. I know in PA - it's illegal to smoke in a work place. You could always play that angle if he turns nasty.
In the interim time - it's your health. Start poking around for another job just in case you get nowhere with the doctor.
Dan
if you are allergic to cigs and you choose to smoke what could happen.
i am allergic but i smoke and everytime i do i get dizzy and light headed. people say i could be smoking to fast but i really am not. the other day i started throwin up blood. could cigs be why??
Throwing up blood could be signs of lots of bad stuff. Go to your doctor immediately. Don't walk, run.
If it happens when coughing - that could be signs of respiratory or lung problems. (yes, cigarettes could make things worse) If you are vomiting like you would if you had an upset stomach - throwing up blood could be an indication of ulcers or stomach issues.
Again - go do your doctor immediately. Don't mess around with this. If there is a lot of bright red blood - go to the Emergency Room - NOW!
I want to know if the "smell" of smoke not smoke itself is harmfull to anyone!!!
Mr Concerned:
Smoke is made up of gases, fumes and particles. If you are smelling the smoke - you are breathing some element of it - whether you can see it or not.
If you can smell it, even in an adjoining apartment or condo - you are likely getting some of the gases from the tobacco smoke. Many of the gases released from tobacco smoke are harmful.
I've been working in an office and the clients and my boss is wonder ful but it is connected to a resteraunt and people smoke. to make the long story short. Many people are smoking and it comes in threw the vents. the first month that i worked there I started having a real sharp pain on the left side of my chest. It was like someone was stabbing me from the front all the way threw the back. went to the hospital they asked me if I did heroin because my heart was racing. I sad no I have never done any type of drugs. Well they sent me home and told me to take some advil its probable the flu or something. well I put 2 &2 together and figuered this must be a reaction to smoke I have never had this before but still had my doubts. well as time is pasting I don't have that feeling but started to have differant symptoms at differant days and times. Ranging from weakness,my head being very sensitive when I touch it,headace,right arm tingling,left arm tinglins,dizzy.dry skin,yellow eyes,tiered all the time don't have much energy. Burning sensation in my nose and throught. I spoken to my boss and it seems that he might be moving to another location. but can someone please tell me or prove to me that my symptoms are from ciggerets or cigars. I know this might sound horrible but I get these symptoms maybe one at a time some times I don't get them at all. but what I do know is this all started when I started working in this office. help me please. i was reading some of these articles but I did not see my symptoms please get back to me.
Carol:
There is no way any of us here can tell you if the smoke is or is not causing the symptoms you described. Go see your doctor. The symptoms you describe should be looked at by a doctor. And an ER is there for urgent care. If these symptoms are ongoing, you are best to be under the care of your primary physician and any specialists they refer you to.
We cannot provide the answers for you. Go see your doctor right away.
My family doctor told me I am "allergic" to cigarette smoke when I was 12. Direct exposure to 2nd hand smoke causes me to cough, sneeze, feel nauseaus, develop a terrible migraine, and even emotional symptoms of sudden irritability and depression. Indirect exposure, that is, when the chemicals from the smoke pervade the house afterwards, for days, causes me to remain plugged up, of course, but also to feel tired and lethargic, physically weak, (the lethargy and weakness could be due to the chronic/prolonged respiratory dusturbace) and I also develop a rash. You can say it "triggers" my eczema,but this IS exactly what it means to be an allergen. I had my doctor tell me this. Irritant means the same thing as an allergen. You smokers make me sick. FYI, every animal is allergic to smoke. Arsenic and formaldehyde, carbon dioxide, etc. kill organisms. Therefore, every smoker is allergic to smoke. Some people are more allergic than others, usually the ones who have the sense to not smoke.Pay more attention to your body you losers.
Elizabeth,
How horrendous for you. I too suffer from being allergic to chemicals in smoke, and it also effects my heart.
You must be very careful and listen to what your GP said. I also suffer from other allergies and have got very ill from them in the past.
It's not very nice having to miss out on living life to the full but you must look after yourself and try and find some happiness when you can, may be from hobbies in the home and such like and being around others who do not smoke or come into contact with it.
Hi Carol,
Smoke in general can cause problems with my heart since I have a heart condition but I also have allergies.
You should get it checked out with the doctor. Mine hasn't been able to do much about the smoke problem and I can only try to stay away from it but sometimes that's easier said than done.
If it carries on may be you should consider changing jobs. Keep a diary of how you feel and see your doctor.
I think one can be allergic to anything...the sun, water, milk, eggs, chicken, almost any plant. It seems right to me that with so many components in smoke from a cigarette, an allergic reaction is possible and that same component, encountered elsewhere would cause the same allergic reaction. There have been tests where human subjects have a positive skin test reaction to or a specific IgE against antigens extracted from tobacco leaf. If this is true, highly sensitive individuals could have some reaction to the smoke form despite the fact that burning changes the chemical form. I also think its irresponsible to suggest that there is no such thing as a smoke allergy. I get it, most people are having sensitivity to the irritant in smoke. I struggle to believe that is the case 100% of the time. To me, it seems that because some people want to continue with a habit that damages them and others they have made some sweeping generalizations about "smoke allergies" and these justifications have caused some confusion of the issue even among non-smokers.
I'm allergic to tobacco and all tobacco products-- its the plant itself that I'm allergic to, just like people are allergic to peanuts, and Red 40. I have no other allergies. i've been tested again and again. What it comes down to is If you rub pure unprocessed tobacco against my skin I immediately break out in hives, and in the next 24 hours the skin that was exposed starts to bubble, flake, and peel off. I added up the amount of time I've had to spend in a hospital and it tallies over 3 year of my 20 years of life. I was 4 when My Primary physician diagnosed it as boils, I was 6 before I got a proper allergy screening done. Long and the short of it is, If I'm exposed to a tobacco product or the smoke of a Tobacco product, I have the same reaction all over my body in my mouth, nose, ears, and all of the way down my throat and into my lungs. As another docter recently found out, if you slip it into my food, I have it in my stomach aswell. (The bastard perferated my stomach with that stunt and nearlly killed me.) My allergy has damaged my hearing, and my sense of smell, and left scars all over my body. I've had doctors try to proove this exact article to me my entire life, I've been exposed to tobacco on purpose with out my consent or knowelge trying to proove that it is a psycosymatic reaction (a really nice condecending way of saying "its all in your head") by everyone from doctors, and nurses, to friends of the family, who just couldn't believe I was really allergic. I'm gonna paraphrase Bill Engval here, People like that are what you get when let pond scum and sweer water comingle. I've won three assault cases in my short 20 years of life, against people who think exactly like you. at least as far as it been documented, there are only 42 other people in the US and Europe who share my allergy and severity of allergy.
Someone asked why there aren't laws about smoking, and here in WA there are, no spoking in any establishment and not withing 25 ft of a public entrance to any building, but that really hasn't done anything for me. People still smoke, and I still have to deal with smokers in everyday life. Despite my violent reaction to it, because I'm not willing to give up living my life for someone elses disgusting addiction.
Tell it to the ER doctor that saved my life when I couldn't breathe, passed out, and had a seizure. I have a DIAGNOSED cigarette smoke allergy backed my an entire team of physicians. I can't believe you would write such nonsense. I hope you never develop the allergy. It's embarrassing, painful, and life threatening. Get a clue.
Well allergen or irritant doesn't really matter. The problem is that you have a weak body and can't handle the real world. It's the circle of life. The strong survive and the weak die off. Wether that be from cigarette smoke or a fire place or perfume doesn't really matter. You died from a weak body that couldn't handle it's enviroment. Just like you probable couldn't handle the dust bowl days in the 30's when there was dirt just floating in the air so bad you had to cover your mouth and nose with a cloth just to breath. Those who could handle it lived those who couldn't died. Life is tough get over it and quit your crying. Ether toughen up or die.
I would like to know the sources for saying "no one is allergic to cigarette smoke." I went thru allergy testing as a child and ciggarette smoke is on my list of allergies. I see others on here have commented similiarly about the truth behind this pages bold statement.
Marv, comparing dust from a dust bowl is not even close to the problems with cigarettes. I was right there when Mt. St. Helens blew, and that left all kinds of ash in the air. This did not cause any kinds of allergic or irritant reactions in me. Ash and dust may have different things, but they are natural things. Tobacco, of course, in itself is natural, but all of the many chemicals there are in cigarette smoke are not naturally come about, but come about in the making of cigarettes which is done by man. The dust bowl was temporary, and just in certain places. Cigarette smoke is not temporary, because more people keep doing it, and it is all over. The smokers, although not all of them, i.e. George Burns, are usually the first to die. Those with cigarette smoke allergies do have problems as well, which includes cancer from 2nd hand, but it's ultimately the smokers themselves which develop far more severe health problems than the ones who either don't smoke or stay away from smoke due to their allergic or irritant reactions. The smokers usually die quicker, developing all kinds of problems in the interim, which when they have no money to pay for, they come crawling to the tax payers(including non-smokers) to pay for their health care. The ones who are allergic or whatever to smoke are going to be the most consciensious about making sure they stay as far away from cigarette smoke as possible, thereby actually extending their life. God or whomever gave them this "allergy" for a reason, because He has important work for them to do on this earth for a longer period of time, and one way to live a long time is to stay far away from smokers, which of course is not easy, but can be done. There are certain things that kill everyone, not just the weak. Besides, everyone will die, whether it's the day they were born, or 100 some years later. Since everyone dies, everyone is weak. Whether it's a physical weakness, or a mental weakness, such as a person who seems allergic to "whining". That's part of the real world. If someone was punching you and beating you up, you cry out for help. Whether you are weak or strong, if that person is stronger than you, they can kill you. But you are still going to whine out for help, and try to remove yourself from the situation. This is what it feels like for a person who is allergic to cigarette smoke. Those who feel they cannot put up with "whining" usually have a weak personality, and they die off before those who are physically weak. The reason for this is that if you are weak physically, you can use your mental prowess to overcome the sitution. However, if you are mentally weak, this only leads to physical weakness. But this cannot be overcome by someone who is mentally weak, because it takes a strong mind to overcome the physical weakness. That person will usually die off quicker because of their negativite attitude and mental state, which does not support a healthy body.
You can certainly be allergic to particles contained IN the smoke! Cigarette smoke contains particles of tobacco, burned paper, processing chemicals and many other toxins. "No one is allergic to smoke" may be accurate but you can ABSOLUTELY be allergic to the contaminants carried by that smoke!!! An allergy is a histimine reaction. If you test the blood of someone reacting to cigarette smoke you WILL FIND that in many cases it is DEFINATELY an allergic, histimine reaction. There is no defense against cigarette smoke. It's like drunk drivers... you cannot predict where and when it will attack you. I personally get a severe migraine within SECONDS of exposure and then my outer ear and tympanic membrane (eardrum) swell and itch. My poor husband gets the migraine and breaks out in hives almost immediately. He literally runs from cigarettes. A doctor or medical professional who tells you that there is no such thing as a "smoke allergy" may be technically correct but is avoiding the issue of the allergens in the smoke and IMO is being EXTREMELY irresponsible.
I smoked for over 20 years, starting at the age of 12. I would have probably continued if I hadn't of gotten sick. I started to suffer from severe headaches and what I thought were allergy symptoms that would not go away with allergy meds. After a visit to the Dr's, it was discovered that it was not caused by allergies at all, but that I had severe sinusitis, caused by cigarette smoke. Basically, I fried all the little “hairs” in my sinuses and they did not work to protect the area anymore. I was told that anyone that is exposed to cigarette smoke, either directly or indirectly, runs the risk of damaging their sinuses and that some people are more susceptible to the condition and do not have to smoke, but only be heavily exposed to it.
The Dr said that the only possibility of reducing the sinuses infections was not only for me to quit smoking, but to not be exposed to smoke at all. Not immediately, but within the first year after I quit, I noticed that the "allergy" symptoms had gone away.
I have learned that one cannot be "allergic" to smoke, but you can irritate and damage your nasal cavities and respiratory system; which can in turn aggravate and complicate existing allergies. I don't claim to be a Dr, I have not studied years in the medical field, but my experience was true to what my MD had told me. Now 2 years later, I know that when exposed to cigarette smoke, and I get the allergy like symptoms I in fact have sinusitis. And yes, like I said, I am not a Dr, but I do confirm each one with one. http://www.sinuswars.com/sinuses_and_smoking(faq).
Despite the articulate and informative writing, this author is very unlikely an immunologist, at least from what I've seen. I won't say much, since frankly, as long as this article has been up, much of it has already been said. There are substances in cigarette smoke which are potential irritants. Many of the symptoms of long-term smokers are caused by the smoker's immune system trying to expel these toxins. Anyway, to wrap up, ANY foreign substance can be a potential allergen. Mind that only a dozen years ago, peanut allergies were unheard of. If a foreign substance enters the body and is recognized by the immune system, it is able to become an allergen.
Dani, I would agree with you absolutely: smoke is an *irritant*. Because it is not a protein (basically it's just little pieces of carbon), it will not trigger an immune reaction by itself. It will aggravate existing allergies or trigger MCS or Vasomotor Rhinitis.
I wrote this article so that people with existing allergies will realize that an irritant is just as bad as an allergen in terms of aggravating symptoms. This is why it is so important for allergic or asthmatic people to keep their symptoms controlled - it's not just allergens that set them off, but a bunch of different irritants (smoke is just an example of one).
I also wrote it so that people who have allergy-like symptoms can find a solution when allergy medication does not help after smoke sets off their symptoms.
If you have Vasomotor Rhinitis like I do, it will mimic allergies exactly, but once you get allergy tested you will find that you are not having a reaction to anything. The allergist will had you a clean bill of health and send you off. For someone with this condition who is exposed to smoke they will gets ALL of the symptoms of allergies, but there is no relief in allergy medications. No matter how many times you take allergies medications, it will never help the problem if you have MCS or Vasomotor Rhinitis, because there is no allergic cascade for meds to interrupt.
This article explores the reasons why smoke causes symptoms, how it affects different people and what solutions there are for each individual case.
I have to wonder how many of you actually read the article through! LOL.
Yeah, it doesn't seem like many people are reading the article or the comments attached. Ignorance is bliss, I guess.
I stumbled upon this article while searching for some information on smoke allergies. I've had to move back in with my parents due to recent financial crisis. My dad is a 3 pack a day guy, mom smokes, brother smokes. When I first moved in, it was agreed that the smoking would occur outside or in the bathroom with the fan running. This has since become an issue of me "guilt tripping" them by asking them to go outside or by leaving the room myself.
It seems that I have Vasomotor Rhinitis, and I will be looking into purchasing one of the recommended air purifiers.
I know many smokers who feel that a non-smoker concerned about the health risks involved with second hand smoke are guilt tripping, or exaggerating, or just wanting to "make noise." I always tell them that suicide is suicide, but when you turn the gun on other people its murder.
Its ridiculous to be so inconsiderate to the health and well-being of others, but that is no excuse to be ignorant in informing yourselves of the actual risks involved.
I don't know whether to call it an allergy or just an irritant. All I do know is that second hand smoke used to only cause me a small amount of asthma issues and sometimes a mild headache, but I was never around it for long.
About 8 months ago I was introduced to a man who smoked. He said that he was trying to quit and as long as I was supportive about that we could give it a try. I went to visit him for several weeks and soon I found that my skin was broken out (almost my entire body, but really bad on places that were exposed - face, shoulders, arms, upper chest, hands). I thought that it could be the detergant and we changed (didn't help), I thought that it could be the feather blanket (even though I use one at home and again it didn't help to stop using it), and finally, after a bad asthma attack (I realized that the smoke could be it).
I never told him of my suspitions, but I kept pushing him to quit (which only made him smoke more). Every time I returned home I got better, but I felt horrid while I was visiting him - headaches, rashes, asthma, and depression from having the previous symptoms. Sadly, though not shocking, he broke up with me over this issue and my resulting laziness because I didn't do anything. What's really sad is that it didn't happen until after I really was falling in love with him.
This is what the cigerette industry has done to our world. It not only kills people, but it builds walls between people because of the smoke. I'd love to have him back, but I know it won't happen. At least I know not to get involved with people who smoke again, but is it really their fault? I don't think that it is.
Shelli:
I have to agree and disagree with your comments.
As far as the walls smoking builds between people - you can't be more right. As someone selling air cleaning equipment to smokers - I constantly hear people call up and say - "I hope this works or my marriage might end." Tension, anger, resentment all build up when a smoker disregards those he lives with.
I also have to agree that the tobacco industry clearly wants people to smoke and engineers their products for maximum addiction.
Where I disagree is this. We are all 100% accountable for our actions. Some people choose not to smoke while others do. But nobody FORCES a smoker to buy the cigarettes, light them up and stick them in their mouths. The smoker has to own those decisions.
Is it hard to stop? YES
Do the cigarette companies make it worse by increasing the nicotine levels? YES
Smokers smoke because they don't believe they can quit or don't have a strong enough reason WHY they should quit.
I've met several women who upon learning they were pregnant - quit cold turkey. Then, later in life when their reason for not smoking isn't as strong - they CHOOSE to go back to it.
But it is a choice - sorry to say.
Dan
haha, I don'th have allergies or underlying conditions. We have 6 pets at home. But when we visit my mother-in-law who is th eonly person we know who smokes. I get allergy conjitivius and skin irrations. And have been told that I have an allergy to the smoke and the toxics...
Reading the postings in response to this article is very informative. My brother and his wife are heavy smokers and though they smoke outside when they visit, the residual smoke on their breath, in their hair, and on their clothing triggers a severe reaction. Despite the dangers of smoking (to self and others) that have long been established, these two think it's "myth," if not a conspiracy (and these are university educated people!). I doubt they really believe it, they just use it as an excuse to justify their smoking and the reaction they think I'm "faking." This faux reaction has sent me to the emergency room three times and urgent care countless times where physicians have said that I need to stay as far away from smoke as possible and because my reactions are getting more pronounced, that I'm likely heading toward a "catastrophic reaction."
Thanks to all of you who posted comments; it is comforting to know that my reaction to even residual smoke is similar to reactions others have written about (though, I'm very empathetic to anyone who has to suffer this reaction). I'm printing the comments so I can send them to my brother.
P.S. Jennifer, I really hope that you are able to move out of your parents' house very soon. It sounds like a form of Hell. And your mention of how smokers think non-smokers are "exaggerating," really resonated with me. Your "suicide/murder" analogy was very smart.
OK let's try to reconcile these statements:
Yours: "No one really is allergic to smoke."
An authoritative source: "Cigarette smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals, including 43 known cancer-causing (carcinogenic) compounds and 400 other toxins. These include nicotine, tar, and carbon monoxide, as well as formaldehyde, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, arsenic, and DDT."
Right, so no-one could *possibly* be allergic to any of those 4,000 chemicals, right? Honestly? Really?
I developed asthma when i was about 14. Ever since then i cannot go near someone smoking as it causes a very bad asthma attack. It even affects me when im in my car and the windows are done up. people think im crazy becuase im soo sensitive to it.
I have non-allergic rhinitis caused by smoking. I had my nose quarterized in january to deal with the problem and since then I have been feeling much better and I would say the effects of the rhinitis have almost gone away, and that I am 80% better. since the operation, I have phased cigarettes out of my life and for the last three months I haven't smoked at all. The effects of the rhinitis that I still experience are itchy eyes, especially in the morning and minor head aches. I want to know whether these effects will just go away on their own now that i've quit smoking, bearing in mind i quit 3 months ago, or whether i've done irreparable damage to my nose and the rhinitis is permanent.
If cigarette allergies are real, then why was the first reported case *after* people started thinking second-hand smoke was harmful (all the studies that have shown this, by the way, have either been lambasted in peer review for being inaccurate or thrown out of federal court for cherry-picking data. The study sighted most often was actually a serious of 11 studies, 10 of which showed no correlation). Before then, no on claimed to be allergic, because doctors actually stated they were healthy. A recent study from Utrecht University even showed that cigarette smoke *helps* allergies. So don't give me that "I'm allergic" crap. Just say what it really is, you don't like the smell of the smoke, and what you don't like, no one can have the freedom to do. Which makes you an elitist hypocrite.
If you are like a woman who used to live in my condo, instead of taking responsiblity for your sensitivities, you can just sue the condo board for failing to provide a healthy place for her to live.
Well this all just fine and dandy, but it does NOT HELP ME ONE BIT!!!!! I have been diagnosed by a specialized physician and have had over one hundred needles stuck into my back. They gave me a giant list of what I am allergic to, which just so happens to include TOBACCO. Yet when I decide to Google it when my allergies worsen, all I get are people debating smoke allergies. My question is this: what happens when you are allergic to the very essence of those lovely cancer sticks and your allergy medicine won't work? Oh, and I also have headaches, congestion, runny nose, coughing, and eczema.
Oh and Legato, cigarettes would never help me. In fact, I personally know someone who was diagnosed with lung cancer after smoking for only two months. So no, smoking won't help.
I have had broncitus 3 times in the last 3 years.Each time is after being in a club in a state where the public is still aloud to smoke. Right now I have been congested for 2 weeks and I am having a hard time breathing.I was at some friends house whom are a group of chain smokers. So I know that I am allergic. To the smokers you just dont want to stop smoking.But yes there are people who are really suffering. I take clariton daily and use a nasal spray that was given to me by the doctor. My chest gets tight in a matter of min. when im around smokers indoors. I also have high bloodpressure so I can not take a decongestion med. If anyone have some suggestion please feel free to give me your remedy.My next step is er if I can not breath better in the next day or so.
crap..I don't believe that you cant be allergic to cigarette smoke. Im 15 and my dad is a heavy smoker. He doesnt smoke near me but when he comes inside i can smell it on his clothes and i get severe headaches and become dizzy. i'm pretty sure i don't have any allergies to other substances in the air, it's just everytime i smell smoke i force myself to get up open all the windows and turn on fans, you might think i'm crazy.. that;s what my dad tells me. But i know for a fact that i have some kind of severe sensitivity.
Evie, The article doesn't say you cannot have reactions from smoke. The article just gets into the technicalities of whether it is truly an allergic reaction or something else.
As the writer of the article, I can say I get it. I grew up with 3 people in my family who smoked. As a kid, they would smoke in the car. My wife even smoked when we first got married. It's unpleasant at best and can make you sick.
webdan65; I read the comments and article thoroughly. I am suffering from Cigarette-smoke allergy for couple of days. My home and work place are smoke free, I maintain them so. But I had a guest who smokes after meals, just one cigarette after each meal. But this has put me in hell. Heavy sneezing, coughing .. the guest has gone but my life is paralyzed by smoke- allergy or irritation . I came to your hub to know what should I do now and in future to avoid / solve such painful situations. I got some answers in your Hub and some in comments. But still I have to search more elsewhere.
My humble request and suggestion ... please try to re-write the whole again by including the ideas and suggestions of comment - makers. Please make it dream-hub for a sufferer like me ...
Great information you gave and hence I expect more from you... webdan65
"The symptoms you experience are trigger by your nervous system rather than allergens."
should read:
The symptoms you experience are triggered by your nervous system rather than allergens.
Thanks Chris - fixed the typo! :-)
First of all, an allergy to cigarette smoke is very possible. Why? Because cigarette smoke is not just smoke. It is full of chemicals which can set off severe reactions. For me, allergies equals reaction. Regardless of allergens, if someone has a consistent reaction to something that a majority of other people tend to not have, then it's an allergen. I think we can all agree that a majority of people do not start literally coughing to death with severe lung irritation from cigarette smoke. Otherwise, you'd have a whole lot of people going to the hospital every time they walked by a bus stop. However, there are people who have these severe reactions to cigarette smoke. They are allergic to the chemicals and irritants within the smoke. There is so much crap in cigarettes that, of course, it's possible for one of the ingredients to severely hurt someone.
The facts that they are not "technically" the same (allergic and irritant reactions) doesn't matter it's a filthy habit that arrogant people force upon the rest of us.
You go and try to tell a crying mother in a hospital that her child that's hooked up to life support systems after a severe asthma attack, that "it's ok, it's only an irritant"
I agree...
We are all 100% accountable for our actions. Some people choose not to smoke while others do. But nobody FORCES a smoker to buy the cigarettes, light them up and stick them in their mouths. The smoker has to own those decisions.
Is it hard to stop? YES
Do the cigarette companies make it worse by increasing the nicotine levels? YES
Smokers smoke because they don't believe they can quit or don't have a strong enough reason WHY they should quit.
I've met several women who upon learning they were pregnant - quit cold turkey. Then, later in life when their reason for not smoking isn't as strong - they CHOOSE to go back to it.
But it is a choice - sorry to say.
Why is it that some of us have such a difficult time changing our habits or making choices?
Joed,
Great points. It is absolutely a choice.
My take is that people won't stop smoking until they associate more pain to smoking than they do to quitting.
They don't have a big enough reason why as joed pointed out. The key is to focus on all the negatives and reasons why you will never smoke again - and not walk around all day long repeating in your head - "I want to smoke."
Logically smokers know it's not good for them, but they let their emotions of wanting to smoke over-ride their intellectual knowledge that they are killing themselves.
Associate pain to smoking.
Associate joy and feeling good to being a non-smoker.
Hope this helps someone out there.
Dan
According to a study performed by the EPA, second-hand smoke from cigarettes can cause increased instances of asthma in children as part of an ongoing allergy. Sinusitis and bronchitis can also stem from too much exposure to smoke.
Read more: About Cigarette Smoke Allergies | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_4798588_cigarette-smoke-
Whatever. Smokers smoke because it feels good. It's the nicotine -- it causes your brain to release some dopamine. Stress goes down, momentarily.
The connection between smoking and lung cancer is overstated. Yes, it's a factor, but so is diet, and genetics as well. When you look at countries in Asia where like 70% of men smoke (that's not a typo), you don't find everyone dying (young) of lung cancer.
In any case, to each his own. As far as second-hand smoke, I can understand not liking it, but you're certainly not in any kind of 'danger'. I've smoked 20 cigarettes a day for 20 years. You inhaling one diluted half-puff of smoke -- please.
There's an interesting article online -- not very popular with those of you posting here who don't like smoking/smokers -- that points out that if smokers were to stop smoking then the overall amount of money spent on health care would go UP. Point -- by dying of lung cancer they don't then die later of some disease which sucks up even more money to treat (not cure). See, we're really all going to die of something in the end. Plus, that analysis doesn't even factor in the fact that smokers are kicking in at least $3 per pack into tax system / health care system. Just that we're easy scapegoats.
I am so glad I came across this article, although now I am more frustruated than ever knowing that relief for my son is virtually impossible.
My 2 year old has been suffering from chronic congestion, sinus infections and a runny nose since he was 7 months, when he got RSV. We've been to 2 allergists, had his adenoids removed, tried several nasal sprays and use the neti pot regularly. He has had no success with any of these. The longest he's gone without symptoms is about a month. Imagine, only 1 month of normal breathing and feeling like everyonone else?
We've had him allergy tested and everything came back negative. His CTscan showed no nasal abnormalities. I am left to believe that even the residue on my in-laws clothes, which see him several times a week, is what is causing all his problems. We didn't let him step foot into their house until just a few months ago, when they stopped smoking inside. They had their carpets cleaned, washed and painted the walls etc. They thought I was taking it a bit too far when I suggested that it still smelled.
I guess we are back to keeping him away from their home. But how do I deal with his possible sensitivity to their clothing? Ask them to change when they come over? Even the drive in their car makes them smell. There's just no avoiding it!
I didnt know why my throat gets ticklish , makes me cough and after my lips gets itchy and dry around my lips after I directly caught a whiff of Cigarette smoke.
I didnt know any other causes for this kind of symptoms so I always thought its an allergy, which in this case I thought was allergy towards smoke, But then, I dont get this kind of reaction when I am BBQing, or when I smell smoke in the air, It only happens when I directly inhale(no not smoking) like say there is haze or walking by someone who just exhale the smoke.
This article has greatly help me in understanding my condition more, I actually have Vasomotor Rhinitis, because my tonsil is always easily inflamed, and it has never healed fully.(I have suffered from Tonsilitis before) So the smoke is an irritant to my throat, to further confirm this, I have all these symptoms
You are likely to have vasomotor rhinitis if:
1. You are highly sensitive to other elements like perfume, strong odors, changes in weather, changes in temperature, or even spicy foods.
2. Walking into a slightly warmer (or cooler) room makes your nose runny or feel completely dry.
3. Antihistamine medications do not alleviate the symptoms.
I was always curious why whenever I am eating Hot(soup) or Spicy food my nose will start to water, or when I go into a cold room or coming out of a cold room to a warm area. (I live in MSIA, my house other than my bedroom which is airconditioned is warm), So I get runny nose whenever there is sudden change in temperature, It also happens when I am exercising in the Gym (Gym is air conditioned)
Dan...first, thank you...I am so glad I came across this article. I have suffered as a result of second hand smoke since I was a small child, although I never had any close family members that smoked. I have honestly never met or heard of anyone who suffers the same reactions (instant headache, sneezing, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, chest pain) I do when I even get one whiff of cigarette smoke in a parking lot.
I've been a paramedic for 11 years and am well aware of the *irritant* vs *allergy* reasoning from a medical standpoint. A great deal of your information is not only informative but quite accurate, especially for those of us who suffer.
Luckily, I've learned that I am not the only person with a sensitivity to cigarette smoke, but I am blessed to not become quite as I'll as some.
I injured my back several months ago and as a result of months of not working, my family and I have moved in with my in-laws. They were very well aware of my "sensitivity" to smoke and it was my mother-in-law who first suggested us to move in, immediately stating she would "only smoke outside". Well, let's just say that didn't even last 24 hours after we moved in. While she "only smokes in her bedroom", doors, walls, etc., are not "smoke-proof" and I've never been so sick in my life. I went to the doctor the other day and she said my lungs sounded like an accordian. In addition to the "common" symptoms I've always experienced, I hadn't been able to figure out why I am constantly nauseated. Now, I realize...
Aside from my declining health and the rapid dissolution of my marriage because of this "smoking" debate is the fact that I can see these same symptoms now in my 2 1/2 year-old son.
So...thanks Dan for the information. Interesting, I've had all the knowledge I've needed all these years, just never applied it to myself...
Jennifer:
Wow - crazy stuff going on. Two resources I can point you towards. HomeSmokeEater.com and TruthAboutBackPain.com Both are my sites and can both help you tremendously. My contact info is on each site and I would encourage you to get in touch so we can speak about each of your issues in person.
I have to walk through smoke to enter work every day. I have bad reaction and miss work on account of reaction. Would it help me to wear a mask from the parking lot to the inside of the building?
Jennifer I feel so sorry for you. I had severe back pain problems that required surgery and caused me not to walk for awhile. I essentially "lost" my son, not legally but just couldn't drag him around home to home as a single mom anymore subjected to other peoples rules and lifestyles, (I lost my man first). I CAN'T IMAGINE THE PAIN ON YOUR BACK WHEN COUGHING OR VOMITING!? Actually I can because when I got colds during my back pain era it was horrible...I wanted to die.
I found this site because I used to and still do have some kind of "sensitivity" to cigarette smoke. I will immediately have my face hurt (sinuses?) and since I'm prone to migraines that's the next step. I spent the holiday covering my face, vomiting at the market, checking out of the house at any excuse possible, and terrified of getting a migraine since we had more houses to visit and I had to drive. Oh I forgot I also had to be the a-hole wasting a nice person's room spray excessively just to try to breathe at her beautiful home (and hopefully get anyone to pay attention). All because ONE in law (it just takes one) felt they HAD to light up about once every 20 minutes albeit "outside" (they always think thats a big solution). In the morning they were at it before 6AM! We had to sleep over because I was in no condition to be the designated driver I planned to be. I think you should show this website to your in laws and hubby.
WE ARE BEGGING! For OUR LIVES! Oh and a side benefit, for your lives too. I knew I was in trouble when my husband said I'd have to "deal with it" like he wouldn't feel right to say anything. He just casually turned away and continued to do so anytime I had to cough, walk or run away, cover my face with my scarf, and he took it in stride when I hustled to the restroom right in the middle of shopping. Usually he would have cried "abandonment" but he was trying to quash the whole issue which required some out of character behavior from him too.
In the future I'm considering farting in that smoker's face during any holiday meal standing right at their face while they are sitting at the table eating and saying I have a flatulence problem and that they are going to have to "deal with it". I might offer to turn and face my butt in the other direction before farting but that's the extent of my "big solution". I will make sure to eat something that produces the worst and smelliest gas imaginable. Any suggestions? I'll probably complain of gassiness for weeks beforehand and make sure my husband feels so sorry for my gassiness before trying this. Just to make sure I have his support/sympathy. I'll say if I don't get to fart on impact the gas will hurt my back or something. I know it sounds so mean and manipulative and gross but I'm desperate. I mean I feel like I'm dying when this happens, and they now know it. It will definitely have shock value because both my husband and I would NEVER behave this way. I was hoping to find on this site something I can spray or light a candle scent on my patio that will counter the odor when my neighbors like to stand 10 feet from my patio and smoke. Because they are doing the big favor of standing that far, right? In reality, I can smell it like a block away. I'm paying for a patio and not using it. And if I have to start buying all this extra anti-smoke paraphernalia just to survive, I wonder if I should submit those receipts to my smoky neighbors or to the tolerant/apathetic building managers for reimbursement. You know what they say...money talks...and BS walks. Why talk about it when I can bill someone and make them deal with it on the only terms that some people take seriously. It's a very real, sad, and INESCAPABLE problem. We can't just stop BREATHING...so can the rest of them please stop smoking? Please? Please? PLEASE!?!?!
P L E A S E ! (
This is a case of: If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it must be a duck.
People are confusing "irritant" with "allergen" because "allergen" is a subset of "irritant" and it is the one that get's more attention.
An "irritant" is basically anything that causes irritation, inflammation or pain. An "allergen" is an irritant, specifically a protein, that causes an immediate and sometimes systemic immune response in some people where it doesn't in others.
In the case of the broad generic "irritant" -- once contact with the irritant is removed symptoms abate, unless of course one is extremely sensitive or receives an overwhelming dose (often by inhalation).
The damage caused by irritants causes the same symptoms as associated with "allergens". It begins with inflammation, which is the initial response of the body to harmful stimuli and is achieved by the increased movement of plasma and leukocytes from the blood into the injured tissues. Severe inflammation can cause an "anaphylactiod reaction" that differs only from "true" anaphylaxis in that it does not involve damage to mast cells. However, the symptoms, treatment, and risk of death are the same.
In the specific case of cigarette smoke as an irritant, not only does it come into contact with the skin, eyes, and ears, it also comes into contact with mucus membranes and is inhaled directly into the lungs. This means that the smoke and all it contains is processed both externally (skin) and internally, entering the bloodstream via the lungs, and thus simply removing one's self from the smoke zone does not end the exposure, any more than if one inhaled bleach or some other chemical cocktail. The body will have to process the chemicals, breaking them down, and eventually eliminating them from the body. This can take several days during which tissue/cellular damages continue and during which the body fights to heal itself.
Given that the damage caused by the chemical irritants in tobocco smoke causes the same symptoms as associated with "allergens" it seems silly to argue with people who say "I'm allergic to" instead of "I have an extreme sensitivity to." It's like arguing that a person with gout "limps" and a person who is having a bad reaction to the detergent his socks were washed in "hobbles." Regardless of the cause of the foot ache or headache, we don't argue with someone using the words "foot ache" or "headache."
If the symptoms are alike for the generic "irritant response" and it's subset "allergic response" and one is in common usage and more readily understood, then the only purpose for arguing over another's use of semantics is to attempt delegitimize them and the veracity of their complaints that tobacco smoke makes them ill in a manner that is symptomatically identical to an allergic response but minus immunoglobulin E (IgE) mediation specific to an allergic response. It's pure silliness.
@ Elizabeth. I am like you. I go into anaphylaxis when ever exposed to cigarettes in any way. Even an unlit cigarette makes my lungs close up and they start to fill with mucous. I don't have a sense of smell, so I don't know I am in trouble until my lungs seize. By then I am in real trouble and must use my Albuterol and my Epi-pen. Everywhere I go, there are smokers. In the grocery store, if I walk within 10 feet of a heavy smoker, my lungs seize. If I touch a pen at the grocery store to write my check and a smoker has touched the pen before me, as soon as my hand gets near my face, I have an attack. The only place I am safe, is in my home. There are so many things I can not do. I can't take a walk on the beach where I live, I can not attend concerts and I can not eat at an outdoor cafe-all because smokers walk by. I even lived in San Luis Obispo, the town with the strictest anti-smoking laws in the world...and I was still exposed. Now I can not work, as any job I apply for, there are smokers on staff.
I don't know what to do. The only way I can explain my cigarette allergy, is that it is similar to a severe peanut allergy. One friend smokes special imported cigarettes from the U.K. They don't bother me at all. It is only the ones made in the U.S. like Marlboro, Camel, etc. What could I be allergic to that is in the cigarette, even unlit, that makes me so ill?
Smoke does cause allergic reactions. I spent the night at a friend's place and either the detergent on the sheets caused me to break out in hives all up and down both legs or the cigarette smoke filled room caused this...or maybe it was mildew from the blanket "comforter"...yes I can smell mildew...and maybe like this blurb explains that 2nd hand cigarette smoke cuases the victim's immune system to become "under the weather" and over-react to allergens such as mites, dust, mildew and the like. now I took claritin D and hope for the best. my legs have been raw and sore with red blotchy hives since saturday afternoon. I will not be visiting that person ever again.
I work in a pediatrician's office. When I whiff 2nd hand smoke from clothing or coats from parents, my sinus and throat would start to hurt and itch, sneezing abounds and postnasal drip would start immediately. Recently my co worker who smokes in her car and outside is smoking more due to stress. When I stand next to her or near her coat, I can smell the smoke and my reactions would start. The only way I can cope with these situations are the following: Take a Claritin immediately, and if that doesn't work, I take a Zyrtec which helps but makes my sleepy. Next I irrigate my nasal passages immediately either with a Neti pot or small bulb syringe with warm salt water. Sometimes I have to do this 3 times a day. I immediately drink warm green tea, preferably with honey, constantly to moisten my throat and wash the irritants away. Sometimes I just squeeze some honey from the bottle and coat my throat with the honey to soothe it. I then wear a mask if I have to be exposed to the smoke emitting person or room. If they ask, I just tell them I am allergic to smoke. Last but not least, when I am not wearing a mask, I hold my breath when I have to be next to my co worker or her coat and rush away after a minute to inhale elsewhere. Sometimes spraying Lysol in the air of the patient's room helps rid of the smoke smell.
I love my job and like my co worker. I just don't want to suffer just because she has to smoke to calm herself down. Other readers are right. It is hard to avoid the smoke. Maybe we will have to go around with oxygen tanks and filtered masks in the future to protect ourselves or mingle with society in a rolling bubble.
I haven't read through all the comments yet but if there is anyone else that is super sensitive to smoke of any kind (especially cigarette smoke) I would love to talk to you! I was a smoker in my teens and then again when I was 27.. I quit but at 28 I had a severe reaction to cigarette smoke and my throat almost closed up on me. Since then I've had major issues, I can't be around anyone that has smoked recently and I can't be around any chimney or fireplace smoke, the tiniest bit and I need to use my inhaler. It's so difficult to get away from smoke. I never realized just how much we are around it in everyday life until I had to start paying attention to it.
i dont think the smoke itself causes allergic reactions but the contents in the ciggarette make it harmful. I have been smoking for over 10 years and my health has weakend drasticly in the past year. I notice that I cough alot and have to clear my thoart every couple mins, usually coughing up flem (coloured and discoloured) for a duration of an hour. Smoking is a terrible addiction that puts a toll on your immune system. I have noticed that during Fall and Winter my coughing is uncontrolable, nothing viral but from the ciggarettes. The dry cold winters in Canada also don't help at all. Second hand smoke is what started this all when my my dad used to drive me to hockey and soccer when I was a kid. Now I have been cutting down alot but still have so much mucus in my lungs. Will this go away and will I re-gain strength back. Can anyone help me ?
Andrew,
Unfortunately you are going to need to help yourself. Nobody but you can quit for you and that is truly the answer. Lung tissue heals when you stop polluting it on a regular basis. Quit the cigarettes and give yourself some time to clear out the toxins.
While nobody can promise there isn't going to be long lasting damage - you will be FAR better off quitting than keeping on smoking.
Go for it...
Dan
My husband is an ex-smoker-3 packs a day for almost 30 yrs!-he quit 13 yrs ago PTL!,I smoked though 1/2 to 1 pack a day much less the amount my husband did and quit 15 years ago.PTL! My husband can smell smoke a mile away-he is MUCH for sensitive to smell it than me and get a severe headache, seems his body says, UH OH No more of that stuff! If we are at a stop light he can tell if someone a few cars away is smoking! We went to a family reunion on his side 3 days ago, he had the good sense to move away from the heavy smokers outside. I did not, today I was diagnosed with a sinus infection. First one I have had since sinus surgery last April that helped me breath better than I ever knew I should be able to. Deviated septum was the problem-only breathing out of one nostril really and got sinus infections ALL the time. Had allergies all the time as a child, my Father smoked. When my Mother passed away in 2008 they asked if she had been a smoker, she had NEVER been a smoker but being around a smoker all those years (63) years damaged her lungs to that degree she had bronchitus and damage to her lungs that resembled a smokers lungs. My husband and I both never thought we would be one of those ex-smokers who gripe, but now we know and think the more and longer someone smokes the more it becomes an allergy to the body who does not want around it anymore! I apologized to all my 3 children who I tried not to smoke around but they of course complained. Problem is my son joined the military 7 years ago and picked up the habit the first year! He works out all the time, eats right and then tells his sister not to drink certain caffeinated drinks! She tells him don't talk to me about being Mr. Healthy until you quit that nasty habit! And she does exerise & eat right, said she is so glad we quit otherwise she would not have been able to bring her children around smoking grandparents. Even when I was a smoker I had the decency to ask first and not smoke around children, I am a retired teacher, and I would go the 1-2 hours at a restaurant without smoking so others could eat! If you can't wait that long, eat at home! My husbands brother died of an instant massive heart attack in his early 40's. He did very physical work, was not overweight etc. But one day his heart literally exploded because he was such a heavy smoker-he immediately died-and hopefully didn't suffer long. THAT is when my husband got serious about quitting and has since then. Hardest thing he ever did and he has not drank for 17 yrs one day at a time. He found he had to give up coffee for a long time because smoking and it were connected as a habit. There are LOTS of ways to help you quit now and one tip we got was to continue to take DEEP breaths several times a day to relax. You do that when you smoke then all of the sudden you stop breathing deeply and it does help you relax. Something I never thought of but was VERY grateful to hear from an ex-smoker. Good luck to all those who try to quit and I believe the ones who are allergic or whatever they want to call it. I have proof now! Robinest58
I am allergic to cigarette smoke. I dont smoke but when exposed for a short duration my throat blisters and swells. I am usually not around smokers but as soon as I am I have this problem. It takes days afterwards to heal. It's as reliable as clockwork. So don't say that there are no allergies to smoke. ESP if you don't experience them.
Well marv I have some words for you,I was told by my doctor that I am allergic to smoke and to to avoid as my way to get better. I also say that you are one of the most ingnorant people I have ever seen utter words. The strong survive and the weak die, toughen up or die? Do you wish to enforce survival of the fittest then?how would you help or change theses problems?I can tell you write now that smoke makes me have chest pain and shortness of breath and wheezing only if I'm expossed to it. And it will bother me for a long time afterwords often. I am not weak nor are any of these people! I am a martial artist, I can bench press 300 pounds I can run and do everything anyone else can do,including my rite to free, all these ignorant people don't understand the basic law, in the constitution its says that we are allowed to be free and do as we will with the exeption of our freedom hurting someone else in any way! This means that you all still have the rite to smoke, but I have the rite to not be forced to let anyone hurt me in anyway, if you have to go somewere else to smoke because you hurting someone the that is fair. They have the rite to enjoy the same things you do.me and you you sitting at a bar are enjoying what the principal of a bar is: a place to drink and purchase alcohol and socialize, if you have to go outside you don't lose any rites or anything, if I have to leave the place itself then I don't even get a corner or smokers patio to enjoy so who is being treated unfairly hear? The one who is forced to leave the bar or the one who can't deal with going ouside, I would call epathy to others a weakness to be something that will kill you not simply saying that we are weak because of a alergy! I am not weak because of my alergy, you wana talk survival of the fittest well I can tell you the only way you could kill me would be to pick up a gun or make me sick from smoking, I could twist your head off any day of the weak with my bare hands so how dare to determine what makes one weak! There are many differnet ways to die but death is inevitable,the strong are those who always strive to do what's right no matter how hard it will be and the weak are those who care nothing but for themsevles and being better that others! My gun or hand or ilness or anything could kill anyone, weakness is the lack of care and love for all living things!its hard to love people who hate but its still posible so there is no arguing that! You can only live the time you are givin on this earth and whether you are strong or weak phsically you will still die. So I think you are the one who is weak my fellow human, for your lack of understanding.
I have done more research and I think I have narrowed down two poisons in the cigarettes that may be causing my anaphylaxis. Acrolein and Formaldehyde seem to be the most likely culprits. WEBDAN65, what say you?
We are in the process of trying to buy a home and every home we go in that I have a severe and debilitating attack, we find out there were smokers in the home. Even as far back as 1998 with not a single smoker in the home after that.
Im really glad that there are people out there who realize how dangerous cigarette smoke can be for people.
They have labeled cigarette smoke as causing cancer since 1959, I lose my voice instantly, get severe headaches, can't breathe just 5 minutes of smoke, and all the chemicals in the smoke, can stay in my lungs for
6-8 hours, and I cough and cough, and can't get the smoke out of my lungs, and then I get bronchitus. How
could anyone making a statement on this web site, saying 4000 chemicals in cigarette smoke, is ok to do to themselves or their relatives or anyone. IF you people want to kill yourself, I wish you would find a different country to live in, because I for one deserve to live
without being constantly sick everytime people are smoking inside or outside. I don't even have to be inches
away, 100 feet away, and I still lose my voice instantly, and can't talk for along time.
For me, I've long been aware that technically, one can't be allergic to smoke itself. However, one can definitely be allergic to some of the substances in different types of smoke. For me, different kinds of smoke all cause the same reaction: hives, wherever it can touch me. However, differing degrees of smoke are needed depending on how many chemicals are in it.
I suppose it is entirely possible that I am reacting to my natural allergy to dust, pollen, and dust mites, which would explain why smoke residue, which promotes these things, has the same effect on me. I find it more likely that I am also simply allergic to a common substance in smoke itself, however.
Well, I just bought a used car this year and for the third time in 4 months, I have a throat infection. Whenever I get in the vehicle, I can smell a smoky smell, and it's not going away. Apparently the filter in the car is clogged and the seller is going to clean the vehicle and replace the filter. I hope this fixes the problem.
I think everyone has an allergy to smoke (or the chemicals in tobacco)but some can tolerate it. My allergist told me everyone is allergic to it but whether it's an allergy or not, I don't really care,and really, it's irrelevant. I just want to be able to live my life and drive my car. I know I get really sick and have to book sick time off of work after I spend much time in my car. This never happened before I purchased this vehicle. When will people start to think about how their second hand smoke is affecting others? So they want to smoke - fine, go somewhere where you're not going to bother anyone. Be mindful of others.
Joan,
Obviously change the filter and clean out the car as best as you can. If the problem persists - visit a car dealer or place that sells or rents cars. They often have an Ozone machine that they use to eliminate tobacco odors from cars. Ask them if they would be willing to treat your car with that device for a fee.
Obviously the first step is to physically clean the car wiping down all surfaces. Consider trying to shampoo the carpets in the car too. Change the filter as well. If all that fails to give you results - check into having the car treated with that Ozone machine. Most car rental places have them to handle rental cars that were smoked in.
Hope this helps!
Dan
We found this blog very interesting and useful. I have a teenager who at the end of last year started to strongly react to cigarette and some industrial smoke (possible smoke containing sulpher)They can not go near any cigarette smoke without a reaction. Sometimes their nose is blocked and they do not smell it but the body always reacts the same way. Previous they would get a rash when getting a whiff of cigarette smoke.
Now their reaction symptoms are swelling of the neck(outer), red chest, sharp pains in throat and chest, stomach pains, headache, shortness of breath and hard to swallow. The reaction can progress with the redness of the chest spreading and an increase of pain in the chest that requires concentration to breath as the throat closes over inside at chest level. (No tongue or lip swelling)
If the reaction is not treated it progresses. How far it progresses depends on how much smoke is inhaled and how they are coping with other food and environmental substances they are intolerant too.
Chewing gum can help with low level irritation and an allergy tablet fexofenadine hydrochloride. The local doctor has a plan of action to put them on salbutamol and oxygen when a reaction starts to progress after exposure. If this does not slow the reaction, then a cortisone injection in the vein of arm often does. However there has been a few times that adrenalin has been needed. They have to carry an epipen at all times.
A number of the Doctor's have been baffled by this reaction wanting an alternate explanation.However the last Respiratory Specialist who saw them in hospital thought it was a reaction to smoke as well as their Allergist.
Whenever I am around smoke i sneeze,sinus problems,runny nose,i go to the doctor and they have yet to run a allergy test,well i live in a small town and i think it is about time i go through a allergy test.I thought maybe it was connected to other health problems, so i got tested for all the tests possible that were on the list,they came back negative time and time again it it not like i have been sexual active either lol.I am frustrated i am allergic to ibuprophen and i am not sure what others i am allergic to either i think it is best to go for a allergy test!
Thank you to everyone who's contributed to this discussion. I've learnt a lot.
I found this page after searching to try to find out what's wrong with me. I had whooping cough 8 months ago, and ever since then I've had trouble breathing when near smoke. Often I choke up and start coughing, and only then realise that there's someone smoking nearby (eg. if I pass someone smoking as I walk along the street).
I'm quite shy and don't socialise much, so I'm not often exposed to smoke. However, last night was my sister's birthday party, and I had bad reaction to smoke. I lost my voice suddenly, I had trouble breathing, I couldn't stop coughing, my eyes became itchy and watery, and I felt a bit dizzy and disoriented. I felt shocking, and I didn't know what had caused this sudden problem -- the reaction itself frightened me. Then someone pointed out that guests were smoking on the balcony. I have little sense of smell, so I hadn't been aware of the smokers, but the reaction happened just after the group had gone out onto the balcony and started smoking.
Thank you for those who've contributed here. I don't think this problem is psychosomatic (I hadn't realised people were smoking). I certainly wasn't faking or just making a fuss for the sake of it (it was humiliating to get sick like that in front of all the guests at my sister's party).
I understand that smokers might not want to hear or believe that other people get ill as a result of exposure to their smoke, but simply denying it doesn't make the problem vanish. I don't deny smokers' freedom to smoke if they want to. But I would request that they are considerate of those who suffer if exposed to smoke. Fortunately, the smokers at my sister's party stopped smoking as soon as they realised there was a problem, and they were as concerned and kind to me as anyone else there. Of course I left the party so that my sensitivity wouldn't spoil everyone else's fun.
I'm sure it's possible to live and let live.
Yeah, I read the first line of this and deemed it shit.
If you are having an allergic reaction...You're fucking allergic. And I just noted tonight as of 2am (and some change) The second that I am even around a lit cigarette I start coughing an sneezing and my eyes immediately swell.
No lung constriction though. I think Long enough exposure to the nasty shit has brought this on...not a smoker. I would bet that if I went a year around no-one that smokes I would be fine again.
I always hated being around cigarette smoke, it gabe me headaches and made me feel kinda sick. I smoked when I was 18 for like a year and quit for that reason. My husband smokes, he thinks I'm just making up this because I don't want him to smoke. I just started working at a bar and I would allow people to smoke if it was a couple people who didn't mind. Everyday after work I feel like crap, almost like a hangover (I don't drink expecially at work). I first thought I felt like this from just going back to work so I still allowed the smoking. Also I get laryngitis every week since I started (I thought from talking loud). I made excuses, until I had a smokeless night. I felt fine the next day. So to all the people who think people are making up being allergic or sensitive to smoke. I know first hand that my symptoms are from cigarette smoke. It sucks to have this I don't want to feel like crap just from being around cigarette smoke.
sana hndi na mausu ang singarilyo kasi marami napapahamak eh sa sigarilyo
The way some of you people sound, you should probably buy a bubble. If it wasn't smoking it would be something else on your hit list. Talking about your illnesses and/or hypochondria are also irritating habits.
I was just looking for some help... I play piano in Las Vegas and the cigar and cigarette smoke makes my nose itch uncontrollably! I'm not saying that I am allergic to it because I do not have any known allergies. In Las Vegas, if someone is itching their nose it's because they have been doing cocaine. I play with a fan blowing but I don't think that helps at all... is their something that would repel the smoke in my personal space?
this is pure garbage, just go to any allergy clinic and they will tell you how many things in cigarettes cause allergies and cancer. To say that they don't is just ignorance or an attempt to make smokers feel better about thier nasty habits.
David....hang in there you are right....people who say cigarette smoke doesn't bring on all sorts of allergic reactions .... are in pure denial of what millions of people are dealing with everyday. I salute you sir!
I had to smile when I read several of you emphatically state that "a DOCTOR diagnosed my smoke allergy." A very respected doctor once told me that my son had a rash...I took him with me to my OB-GYN appointment and was informed that my son had the measles. Another time a DOCTOR told my husband he pulled a muscle...less than a week later an emergency room doctor called it a ruptured hernia. But the worst was when a DOCTOR diagnosed my husband with the flu, then pneumonia and then a heart conditon...by the time it was correctly diagnosed as cancer, it was too late. Doctors make mistakes...they are not infallable and you're unbelievably naive if you believe that they are. No one is saying that second hand smoke isn't dangerous but it's most defintely not an allergen. I have allergies up the ying yang and years ago a DOCTOR told me that 60% of allergies are caused by nerves...I believe it but it sounds like most of you are too engaged in the "poor me's" to think rationally. Car emmissions contain many of the same toxins as cigarette smoke but I have never heard anyone claim to be allergic to them...probably because it's just not as PC.
Let's not forget the term doctors use to describe their own work. They are PRACTICING medicine on us. LOL
People like old Gandu on here that say smoking doesnt give allergies are talking UTTER crap.You Gandu will die of lung cancer one day hopefully,you people that smoke obviously have a nervous disposition that you need to hold a cancer stick in your hand .You all start smoking young just to look cool then you mugs get hooked on it.Whats the fun in slowly killing yourself by daily inhaling a load of crap down your throat.It amazes me watching people desperate for a fag as soon as they get off a train or aeroplane.YOU people are just pathetic losers with a weakness in yourself that makes you need a cancer stick in your hand to relax.Cigarettes should never have been invented then you IDIOTS would not need one.SO GANDU smoke yourself to death you SELFISH FOOL !!
Now I finally understand why life becomes so miserable every time I get a whiff of cigarette smoke. It's very true that antihistamines don't work on cig smoke..
I've been in the E.R. for it before and have contracted sinus infections, one after the other. Talk about miserable..
Now if only I could get everyone in the world to stop smoking....wouldn't life be wonderful?!
Kenny, honey, you can be allergic to it infact. You can be allergic to things in the smoke. Cigarettes have ingredients like any other item. You can be allergic to some of the substances in the cigarettes.
I knew it. I quit smoking moths ago, and my mther in law and er sister are chain smokers. They seriously dont care whether you have asthma or even for common courtesy and smoke outside. I have had major headaches and my nise is suoer sensitive to cigarette smoke and dust now. It sucks. I need an air purifier asap, my claritin doesnt hold it up for me anymore:/ seriously smokers, wakeup and smell what your smoking. Its bad for you and for others around you.
i also have a problem with any kind of smoke.Especially when i inhale firewood smoke. i experience stuffy nose, difficulty in breathing and feel like my throat muscles have weakened and can't breath normally. What causes this, i have no history of asthma and i do not suffer from asthma.
Reading this, I have come to understand my conditions a lot better. Two years ago I noticed I had started to become more and more sensitive to smoke because all my friends parents smoked. I didnt have anymore attacks after medication I had taken but I was still weezing and coughing after a short amount of time of being around a smoker, though sadly there isn't much to help fix this problem I'm glad that I know more about it. Thanks for writing this page, it's very useful
anybody know of any sites pertaining to the relationship between eczema and smoking?
Sorry, but reading this and hearing "no one is allergic to smoke" sickens me. It's like when an anesthesiologist screamed at me (while I was laying on the operating table, no less) that "NO ONE is allergic to Lidocaine." It's a rare allergy, true, but it exists. In my case, a hospital determined that allergy after I nearly died.
My little sister has a true allergy to cigarette smoke. More correctly, she is allergic to a number of the chemicals released in cigarette smoke. She does not have the two conditions listed here. No, it is an honest-to-God allergy.
An allergy is the immune system's reaction to a foreign substance that it perceives to be harmful. There are over 4000 chemicals in secondhand smoke; 200 of these chemicals are poisonous and 60 of them are carcinogens. So yes, our body certainly can have an allergic reaction to one, or many, of these chemicals. And since it's impossible to distinguish on our own if the guy smoking next to us is putting out that particular chemical, we are therefore allergic to the umbrella term "cigarette smoke."
Telling my sister she is not allergic to cigarette smoke is like telling my brother "you're not allergic to marzipan, you're only allergic to almonds" or telling my friend "you're not allergic to peanut butter cookies, you're only allergic to the nuts." Sounds stupid, right?
Before believing whatever is posted on some hubpage just because it turns up first in Google (which is did for me) please read something more official. Perhaps getting tested for vasomotor rhinitis, asthma, and other allergies is a good idea, but I would hate to think some smoker will one day shout at my sister "NO ONE is allergic to cigarettes, I read it online!"
I have never had a problem with cigarette smoke, I did use to have asthma but I grew out of it.
The only thing I am allergic to is Penicillin. But spending 3 days a my mothers home (she smokes) I got allergic symtoms, runny nose, burning running eyes, congestion, headaches, nausea and I felt out of breath.
I lived with her until I was 21 and these past 3 days have been hell as the reaction has developed into a heavy cold.
I wonder if these are related at all?
When living here I always had a cold but the doctor never said about any other health issues.
Does this mean (as I have no other issues) that I am in fact allergic to smoke?
my brother in law has never smoke cigerettes and if he smells them he cant breath and has to leave the area but when he smokes pot he is fine why does that happen
I have this stupid problem and I don't smoke either! I have lost all of my friends and in college everyone smokes too. Everyday is a battle with fatigue and a sore throat. I wish all the smokers were the ones that have to suffer, but of course not right. It's my f'n job to find a cure for this problem. So all you guys with this problem someday I hope I can find a cure and you guys should too. Don't take no for an answer. We need your help and the future children who will have this problem also. So please help!
I have a bad nickel allergy, and nothing sets it off worse than the nickel in cigarette smoke. Hives, swelling, throwing up and gagging its awful.
i wish i could blow cig smoke in all ur non smokin faces you think you can run the world u think u dont do stuff we dont like everyone is always gonna try to take something away from someone else grow up we all share this world equaly so start acting like it
Hey Smokes. Gotta say that was one of the most ignorant comments I've seen. Do you really think that just because YOU want to pollute your body that others should have to suffer? Nobody wants to take smoking away from you, just do it privately where your disgusting habit doesn't affect others who choose to live a more healthy life.
I started reacting badly to cigarette smoke when I was 14. Since then, any whiff of it it has made me cough and retch, and gives me a strong urge to be as far away as possible. If exposed too long, the effects can last all day afterwards.
Strangely enough, one time I was waiting for a bus and smelt tobacco smoke, and got ready for the usual reaction... and it didn't come. I was so surprised, I walked up to the smoker and asked what he was smoking. It turned out to be a "Captain Black" mini-cigar.
So this proves that it's NOT psychological as some people here are insisting - I was expecting to cough, but it didn't happen. I've since discovered that I can handle pipe tobacco smoke with no adverse reactions as well. Both of those are pretty rare, though.
It must be some chemical in specifically cigarette smoke that's making me have such a reaction.
I really wish that public normal-cigarette smoking would be banned, and at the same time electronic cigarette smoking allowed and encouraged (since e-cigs don't give off those noxious fumes, or if they do, they're still much healthier for everyone around). Public cigarette smoking is like carrying around a boombox, forcing your crap on everyone whether they want it or not.
And thank you very much for this article. I think "Vasomotor Rhinitis" sounds a bit like what I have.
I also had a big problem with air quality in my room, until I read B.C. Wolverton's book "How to Grow Fresh Air" and bought some of the plants that have been tested to remove indoor air pollutants. I keep them in my air-tight room now, and have been breathing a lot easier at night.
What a load of horse shit. When I'm around cigarette smoke for longer than a few minutes, I'm sick for a whole week. My doctor did tests on me, and concluded that I am extremely allergic to cigarettes. Being around regular smoke (like from a camp fire) has no effect. I do not have asthma or any other allergies that I know of.
Show me your credentials, including where you got your MD.
When my husband smokes a cigarette his whole personality changes. Its almost like drinking but not drunk. We did an experiment cause he only smokes 2 or 3 cigarettes at work on certain days. We cut the smoking out and there was no more incidents. Has anyone ever heard of someone reacting to cigarettes this way. please email me at twodogstolove@aol.com because i dont get on the computer much but i do read my mail. thank you
Thanks so much! I was writing an exposition just now and I wanted to know if anyone could be allergic to cigarette smoke. Thanks!
When I worked retail, returning smokey clothes broke out my arms and I itched like crazy. I never had a smoker who was willing to wash the clothes first as they had to be "damaged out" anyway (higher prices for the rest of us). I have lived in primarily smoke-free states like CA & FL (we could even go bowling and eat at the Olive Garden). Now I am fighting for my life in a very ignorant/poorly-governed city in SC. I went through chemo here and have lung damage (on oxygen). I had complained to management I couldn't use my porch because of the first smoker. I was doing ok when the smoker to the side bought a smoke eater (except when their smoker friends come). Tenants cannot keep anyone from enjoying their home (including the little porch). It gets stuffy and dark in here and that little porch is invaluable. Months later, knowing that I was ill and on oxygen, they put a tenant directly above me who is a smoker and a friend I think smokes also. Sitting out on the porch, the smoke comes through the sections of wood flooring, and I very quickly become a passive smoker with all the benefits of struggling to clear it out of my damaged lungs, burning skin/nose, nausea, headache for hours, etc. The mgmt here says they must smell it before they can do something and have really become ugly. They have told the smoker above me she would have to contain it; however, they somehow gave her the impression that her problem would go away and it is even worse.(They have told me I should live elsewhere.) They really feel free to shove me around and they really hate my knowledge. I had given them the surgeon general's report, etc., when I was trying to get help with the first smoker. This wonderful person above me is the usual, probably uninformed smoker who is going to do it regardless. She runs in her porch door before I can catch her. I had complained to mgmt about putting a smoker above me when they knew they were putting me at an even higher risk and in doing nothing to contain it beforehand. I asked for help from maintenance to seal the openings in the wood flooring above me. The following Monday I heard the maintenance guy tell one of his workers that they were tired of being shoved around by me and they weren't going to do it. I asked one of the managers if I could have my grandson put weather stripping in the openings -- no reply.
I know you cannot never fully contain smoke in the same building & I am feeling the same effects inside the apartment (eyes, skin, gritty feeling, etc.) without smelling it except for a few times in the bathroom and in trying to get out the door to the porch to get some fresh air. I'm opening my windows at risk. I'm afraid I won't make it out of here alive and to a city that's clean, liveable, and enjoyable, hopefully back in Florida.
Give up wheat and all your reactions will disappear. It's true - try it. But you have to be strict and not have ANY wheat in any form in anything. Bye bye asthma, bye bye allergies.
They're toxic, nasty, and they stink. Very unfair to nonsmokers.
to those who say their "allergic" to cigarette and cigar smoke, your full of it the possibility of someone being allergic to smoke is the same likelihood of my mom's boobs being real, that shit don't happen so take your rights limiting ass elsewhere and be stupid there not in America.
thankyou. I have that type of reaction, plus I seem to sense an almost electical link to smoking that causes my headaches and also causes me to be slightly forgetful. I think my subconsoious brain senses smoke and thinks fire and I get a panic feeling to get out or away and as it is cigarette smoke, it confuses the brain and I cant escape it. I also seem to get sinus type reactions, so thankyou. People are so rude when you try to tell them. I had also had a high white blood cell count at one point and believe that being around smoke and smokers increases this with the stress it causes me.
I found this article informative and well-written. He's trying to stress the difficulty of controlling reactions to cigarette smoke, when allergy medications aren't working.
While irritant reactions and vasomotor rhinitis are there and it's great the article raised awareness, some people do have classic allergic reactions too. Nickel and the tobacco plant are two examples on the forum, of the thousands possible.
Once again I'm glad the article raised awareness about why someone's allergy medication might not be working with smoke. Take care of yourselves.
This is entirely untrue, people can be allergic to ANYTHING.
It doesn't matter if it's hypo-allergenic: it's possible to be allergic to them, and the same goes for smoke.
I have reacted positively to a blood test that told me that I was allergic to smoke. Not as an irritant, but as a full blown allergy. I have been told by a doctor that I am allergic to smoke, not just from tobacco, and I DO go in to anaphylaxis when I'm exposed to it. Not an asthma attack, but anaphylaxic shock.
A statement that includes "it's impossible to be allergic to..." is going to be false, because allergies can develop in regards to anything. Anything at all.
Thanks for the info. I don't actually care about scientific aspect of smoking, all I know is that I can't stand smoke, period. And I am ready to hit someone really bad if I have to stop him or her from damaging my health. You can't imagine the money I spend annually to treat the damage done by the smoking of others. I pray to god that whoever annoys other by smoking on purpose that they get someone to annoy them by some other thing. Curse who invented this shit
Additionally, and because of your smoking, I have been rejecting many lucrative job offers because they cannot provide me a smoke-free working environment, not even an tight room. This adds to the financial costs of smoking.
I have been a smoker for 50 yrs and almost never had a reaction to cigarret smoke until the introduction of FSC cigarrets. I cannot stand them and it gives me an allegic reaction as discribed by many on this blog.
I googled FSC cigarrets and was suprised to see thousands of complaints from numeous smokers becoming ill from these FSC (Fire Safe Cigarrets). If you don't beleive me google it for youself and read the comments I think you will possibly find out what is making you sick.
Second hand smoke is complete junk science, but after adding carpet glue and a few other chemicals to make this cigarettes fire safe?? This will make second hand smoke come true and be truly harmfull. FSC cigarrets should be banned, they are not fire safe and are causing many allergic reactions to many people.
People claiming to be allergic to smoking have other issues. Most of them are struggling with their weight. We all like to put things in our mouth. I choose cigarettes over food.
I do believe it is impossible for people to be allergic to cig's. My boyfriend used to smoke, he claims for one month. His mother also used to smoke, he also claims this was only for one month. I smoke. When he rides in my car he claims his arm goes numb, and I don't understand that his lungs are collasped. Yep, that's just the beginning. Now I do get the whole cig's cause cancer. Although has anybody noticed that everything and all things can for some reason be all related to smoking? I really find it hard to believe that people are allergic to cigarette smoke. If you are allergic to cat's, and pollen, and dust, get on a prescription of any allergy relief. And as my boyfriend takes his, he still claims he's has nicotine poisening, the cat dander is getting to him, ugghhh all the dust. Yep, suck it up my dear, learn to live with it, or just go away...
When I am subjected to cigarett e smoke my throat and nasal passage swell up just like the people allergic to peanuts or other foods. This is called anaphylaxis and it is fatal if not treated immediately. I never said I was allergic to cigarettes. I am allergic to one of the many ingredients cigarettes are made of, like tar,nicotine,formaldehyde etc. . I had to drink green tea to reverse my allergic reaction. I did not have time to rush to the emergency room and one time I almost died. A lot of people who smoke cigarettes feel insulted when they come in contact with people like me so they throw their insecurities in the air. They become stubborn and develop a very nasty attitude and assume that we don't know smoking cigarettes is an addiction. We know they are addicted to nicotine and it is very difficult to kick their nicotine addiction and that most of them don't kick the habit the first time they try. It doesn't mean that we don't have an allergic reaction to certain ingredients in cigarette smoke. I had to tell someone I couldn't be friends with them because of this,so it is a serious issue.
It really angers me when smokers can be so selfish and arrogant.
My daughter is so sensitive to smoke that it triggers a severe asthma attack. I dread the day it could be fatal. All because some selfish person wanted their nicotine fix. Smoke in your own space on let us keep smoke free!
I have seen people who claim to be allergic to smoke sit right next to a smoking grill waiting for their food and not be upset. Smoke is smoke and that includes all smoked meats, smoked fish, smoked turkey, and smoked hams. Most of the things that we live with have been heat treated and can leave the burning smell. For example most things metal have been heat treated to keep their strength. Burning things is necessary in our daily lives whether you work with it or not. Fire is one of the signs of life.
so you amoung many think that smoke is smoke, I didn't know all the chemicals they put into cigarettes are put into wood people like you you are trying to make smokers feel better by denying that some of the thousand of chemicals put into cigarettes might cause some of us problems, yet people make up the excuse they have a hard time quiting because the chemicals amongst other ingrediants are addictive smokers can never handle a responsibility for any thing maybe you all have a severe mental weekness on top of a nasty habit
David 3 years ago
To make a statement that "Allergies to Cigarette Smoke is a myth" is absurd. An allergene is simply a foreign substance that causes a persons immune system to overreact and protect itself. Some people have a severe reaction to cigarette smoke. I am one of them. It triggers a mild anaphylactic shock which in turns causes shortness of breath and coughing leading to a severe gag reflex.
Now try to tell me it's not an allergic reaction...