Here's more ammunition when you discuss cigarette smoking with your asthma patients: A 10-year longitudinal study supports the hypothesis that cigarette smoking is an important predictor of asthma severity and poor asthma control. Heavy smokers (more than 20 pack-years) had more than 5 times the risk of developing severe asthma than non-smokers, and those who smoked 10 pack-years had more than 13 times the risk of uncontrolled asthma.
RESULT: Greater severity of new onset asthma in allergic subjects who smoke: a 10-year longitudinal study
Respiratory Research | Jan 24, 2011 (FREE FULL TEXT)
What's more, environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) coming from mothers who smoke can lead to asthma and wheezing among their teens. In a large Swedish survey, teens whose mothers smoked were significantly more likely to have asthma. Here's another good reason to counsel patients to quit if they have children at home.
RESULT: Both environmental tobacco smoke and personal smoking is related to asthma and wheeze in teenagers
Thorax | Jan 1, 2011 (FREE FULL TEXT)
Smoking is associated with decreased asthma control and increased risk of mortality and asthma attacks and exacerbations, according to a recent literature review. Lung function and asthma symptoms are likely to improve for patients who are able to quit smoking.
RESULT: Asthma and cigarette smoking: a review of the empirical literature
The Journal of Asthma (PubMed) | May 1, 2010 (Free abstract. Full text not available via PubMed)
If your patients have rhinitis with symptoms of nasal blockage or rhinorrhea, as well as any signs of chronic rhinosinusitis, they are at a significantly increased risk of having multi-symptom, and therefore more severe, asthma. The authors urge you to contemplate asthma when patients present with rhinitis or nasal blockage, and vice versa.
RESULT: Multi-symptom asthma is closely related to nasal blockage, rhinorrhea and symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis-evidence from the West Sweden Asthma Study
Respiratory Research | Dec 17, 2010 (FREE FULL TEXT)
