Smoke Free Insights: World Asthma Day 2025
Children exposed to tobacco smoke are at significantly higher risk of poor respiratory health and developing asthma. In the UK, an estimated 20,000 new cases of asthma in children each year are linked to exposure to second-hand smoke (also known as passive smoking) (RCP, 2020).
Tobacco smoke irritates and inflames the airways, triggering asthma symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, and breathlessness. Children who live in households where adults smoke are more likely to experience frequent and severe asthma attacks, miss school days, and require hospital treatment. Smoking also reduces the effectiveness of asthma medicines, including inhalers and steroids, making asthma harder to control.
A common misconception is that smoking outside, in another room, or near an open window eliminates the risks to children. However, "third-hand smoke" - the toxic chemicals that are released from the end of a burning cigarette smoke - settle and linger on walls, carpets, furniture, and clothing for several weeks and continue to expose children to harm.
There is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke. Only by stopping smoking completely and creating a smoke-free environment can the risk be reduced, helping to improve children’s quality of life and reduce asthma symptoms.
If you work for the trust or care for a SLaM patient and would like support, please email us at smokefreeready@slam.nhs.uk
To find your local, free stop smoking service, visit https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/ready-to-quit-smoking/find-your-local-stop-smoking-service/ or download the NHS Quit Smoking app.
