Secondhand smoke makes people more vulnerable to aspirin sensitivity
People who are motivated to quit smoking can support their efforts with smoking cessation products, which are among the most popular over the counter medications in Canadian pharmacies.
People who are motivated to quit smoking can support their efforts with smoking cessation products, which are among the most popular over the counter medications in Canadian pharmacies. Giving up this habit will be beneficial to their loved ones, as well, because they will be less likely to develop complications from secondhand smoke. New research supported by the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology suggests that one potential condition resulting from this hazard is aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD).
About one-tenth of asthmatics and one-third of people with both asthma and chronic sinus inflammation also have AERD, an aspirin sensitivity in which the medication induces respiratory symptoms.
In order to investigate the link between AERD and secondhand smoke, the study team observed 260 couples, in which one partner had AERD and asthma while the other served as a healthy control.
Results showed that subjects with AERD were three times more likely to have been exposed to secondhand smoke as children, and five times more likely to have been affected by the hazard as children or adults. Furthermore, smokers' chances of having AERD increased by 1.5 times, as reported in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
"There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke," said researcher Donald Stevenson, MD. "Smokers need to realize that they are putting their children and spouses at risk of serious health problems, including asthma associated with AERD."
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