Are you allergic to cigarette smoke?

Are you allergic to cigarette smoke?

Is just a whiff of smoke enough to ruin your day? As soon as the person next to you lights up, the first thing that comes to mind is the unpleasant memory of your last encounter with secondhand smoke and the runny nose, sneezing and congestion that followed. For some, the reaction to cigarette smoke closely resembles an allergic reaction, leading them to believe they have “smoke allergies.”

There are many myths about “smoke allergies” that actually make your condition more difficult to properly treat. In this article, you will learn whether “smoke allergies” affect you and what you can do to better protect yourself from the diseases associated with smoke exposure.

Myth #1: “Allergic to smoke”

Nobody is really allergic to smoke. A large number of people insist that they are allergic to smoke produced by cigarettes or cigars, but the truth is that they are having an allergy-like reaction due to other health conditions. Understanding exactly why you feel like you're having an allergy attack around a smoker is key to understanding how to prevent future symptoms.

Why do I say there is no such thing as a smoke allergy? Because technically speaking, smoke is not an allergen – it is an irritant. This small difference explains why most people do not experience relief when taking antihistamine medication after exposure to smoke. The key to avoiding the problems caused by cigarette smoke is to determine what type of sensitivity you have and how to best treat it.

Who is susceptible to “smoke allergies”?

• Children and toddlers

• Older people

• People with a history of allergy (those with allergies, asthma, eczema, etc.)

• People who have been exposed to heavy smoke for a long time

Sometimes people who are sensitive to tobacco smoke also experience allergy-like symptoms when exposed to strong smells, perfumes, weather changes, or temperature changes.

Cigarette sensitivity symptoms

For some people, exposure to tobacco smoke can cause a list of symptoms:

• Sneeze

• Cough

• Watery, burning eyes

• Runny nose

• Nose drip

• overload

• shortness of breath

• Headache

These symptoms appear shortly after exposure to cigarette smoke and last for hours afterward. In addition to these symptoms, people who are in a smoky environment on a daily basis are more likely to experience constant respiratory infections such as sinusitis and bronchitis, as well as the development of wheezing and asthma.

Tobacco smoke exposure

A lit cigarette can release over 4,000 different chemicals into the air (80 of which are known or suspected carcinogens). Sometimes it is almost impossible to avoid situations where people smoke. Often a family member smokes indoors or smoking is permitted in a public place such as a bar or restaurant. Depending on the severity of your reaction, just the smell of smoke on a person's clothing or in a room where someone has smoked can cause irritation. Although avoiding tobacco smoke is the best way to prevent “smoke allergies,” it may not be a practical solution.

Two main types of smoke sensitivity

The best way to treat your “allergy” to smoke is to first determine what type of sensitivity you are experiencing. There are two forms of smoke sensitivity:

• Smoke-aggravating underlying allergies: Your body becomes weakened by smoke and reacts to all the tiny pieces of pollen, dust and dander that normally wouldn't have been a problem.

• Vasomotor rhinitis: This is a condition that has exactly the same symptoms as allergic rhinitis (or nasal allergies), but cannot be treated with an antihistamine medicine.

Smoke-aggravated allergies:

An allergen is a small particle made up of proteins that the body thinks is a dangerous invader, such as a virus or other germ. Smoke contains tiny particles of tar ash (you can see these particles in the form of a white cloud created by burning tobacco). However, tar ash particles are not the same as a true allergen because they are not protein-based, but rather a form of carbon.

Smoke particles are not classified as an allergen but are classified as an irritant. Irritants can cause you a lot of discomfort, worsen conditions like asthma and allergies, and cause other serious health problems. So in medical terms, no one can truly be allergic to smoke, but they can suffer complications from existing allergies or other illnesses.

If you have allergies or allergic asthma, smoke can trigger an allergic reaction because it puts additional stress on your body and immune system. The patch of cat dander floating through the air that normally wouldn't have caused a violent reaction; However, with the addition of tobacco smoke, your body can no longer handle the allergens. Asthma becomes dangerous when mixed with tobacco smoke - even fatal for some.

Complications from existing allergies are likely to occur if:

1. You know you are allergic to other things like pollen, pets, mold, or dust mites.

2. You have eczema or food allergies.

Treatment

• Avoid as many situations as possible where you are exposed to smoke.

• Consult an allergist to optimize your existing allergy treatment or check 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 a home smoker is effective in removing allergens in guest rooms of smoking family members.

Vasomotor rhinitis:

Vasomotor rhinitis is a form of inflammation and irritation of the nose area as well as the throat and eyes. Seasonal or indoor allergies are called “allergic rhinitis.” This condition is different from the allergic type because it is not caused by allergens. For this reason, vasomotor rhinitis is sometimes called “non-allergic rhinitis.” It causes many of the same symptoms as an allergic reaction, but is caused by highly sensitive or excessive amounts of blood vessels in the delicate tissue of the sinus area. The symptoms you are experiencing are caused by your nervous system rather than by allergens.

This means that while another person may be able to tolerate cigarette smoke, a person with vasomotor rhinitis will experience great discomfort with the same amount of smoke. So don't overreact when you complain about small amounts of smoke - those small amounts REALLY affect you more than those around you.

In addition to cigarette smoke, strong odors or weather conditions often cause symptoms, so you may find that many aspects of your environment cause allergy-like symptoms. Some people even have allergic rhinitis and vasomotor rhinitis at the same time.

You probably have vasomotor rhinitis if:

1. They are very sensitive to other elements such as perfume, strong smells, weather changes, temperature changes or even spicy foods.

2. If you enter a slightly warmer (or cooler) room, your nose will run runny or become painfully stuffy.

3. Antihistamines do not relieve symptoms.

Treatment

• Avoid as many situations as possible that could worsen your condition. This includes smoke as well as some other vasomotor rhinitis triggers such as wearing perfume, burning scented candles, etc.

• Talk to your doctor about treatment options. Some over-the-counter medications, such as oral decongestants and saline nasal sprays, may provide you with relief. Some prescription medications that have been shown to be effective include 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 the smell of smoke as this is often the cause of many cases of vasomotor rhinitis. Use an air purifier like a Home smoke eater Minimize air pollutants.

A note for people 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, inhaling second-hand tobacco smoke significantly increases the likelihood of developing allergies as they grow 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 is to make your living space a smoke-free area. If this isn't an option, consider an air purifier as an investment in your health.

Some of the symptoms of sinusitis (sinus infection) may be very similar to vasomotor rhinitis and allergic rhinitis described in this article. If you experience tobacco smoke under the weather, contact your doctor to diagnose your condition.

Remember: Always talk to your doctor or allergist about your symptoms and treatment.

Inspired by Dan Buglio