As a result of many studies, an answer was received to the question that many people asked: can there be an allergy to cigarettes. The answer was positive. At the same time, asthma symptoms increase the intensity of allergies to cigarette smoke. An allergic reaction of the body to dust, various foods, plants, animal hair, etc. is manifested. And only the issue of allergies to cigarettes was until recently considered controversial. However, not so long ago, doctors identified ways to treat this disease, its main signs.
Causes
Often the disease is confused with a runny nose, the usual cough, and sometimes the smoker himself may not suspect that he is allergic to cigarettes. How are the symptoms manifested? Only a few know about this. Over time, they manifest themselves brighter. This disease develops in both active and passive smokers. The negative reaction of the body is due to the presence of toxins in the composition of tobacco products - nicotine, tar, etc.
Also, the presence of microscopic particles, which the body takes for viruses, affects the manifestation of allergies to the smell of cigarettes. As scientists have found, tobacco smoke itself does not play a big role. Only a few particles are responsible for the appearance of symptoms of an allergy to cigarettes. Smoke only increases the burden on the body, which is imposed by harmful particles. And if a person has a tendency to specific reactions, his body responds quickly enough to interact with nicotine. So the symptoms of cigarette allergy begin to manifest.
Provocative factors
Just a couple of decades ago, it was believed that an allergy of this kind was a rather rare occurrence. But today, a similar diagnosis is being made more and more often. It is not only the new achievements of scientists in the field of medicine, but also the latest methods of production of tobacco products. Today, new compositions are added to the tobacco mixture that extend the shelf life of products and improve its taste properties. And they are dangerous to human health, they can provoke the appearance of allergy symptoms to cigarettes.
Second hand smoke
It should be borne in mind that not only active, but also passive smokers are at risk. And very often those who smoke passively suffer from symptoms of allergies to cigarettes. A person who happens to be in smoking rooms communicates with a lover of tobacco products, inhales the whole complex of harmful substances. It is worth noting that allergy to electronic cigarettes is increasingly occurring.
In many ways, the intensity of the symptoms depends on the size of the room, the availability of ventilation. In addition, the individual characteristics of the body also influence. According to recent studies, active and passive smoking equally provoke negative consequences.
Symptoms
Trying to identify the presence of a specific reaction of the body to tobacco products, pay attention to a cough with sore throat, difficulty breathing, a hoarse voice, swelling, rhinitis, rashes on the skin, burning eyes. It should be borne in mind that the identification of symptoms and the treatment of allergies to cigarettes are extremely important, since in some cases this disease leads to death. Quincke's edema, anaphylactic shock may also develop.
Sometimes rhinitis leads to sinusitis, cough flows into bronchitis. Shortness of breath leads to the development of asthma, and rashes on the skin - to dermatitis, psoriasis.
Anaphylactic shock is considered one of the most dangerous consequences. It is recognized by the patient’s loss of consciousness, pressure drop, discoloration of the skin, tachycardia, respiratory failure.
As soon as such phenomena are detected, you should immediately seek medical help. Often, specific reactions to tobacco occur in children in the smoker's family. They can often suffer from rhinitis, dermatitis. And parents may not understand the reasons for the frequency of such diseases. It is necessary to take into account the fact that it is impossible to cure an allergy to tobacco products, without exception, the effects of nicotine on the body. It must be remembered that smoke remains on the walls of the premises. And even if no one smokes in them, the disease develops.
Allergies in children
The hardest hit is children. It is forbidden to smoke in the building where babies are. They have the most powerful reaction. If the child is more than 3 years old, the symptoms of allergies to cigarettes (they are shown in the photo) can be determined by swelling of the mucous membranes, redness of the eyes. These manifestations are accompanied by cough, sore throat. The skin may begin to peel off.
If we are talking about electronic cigarettes, of them, despite the absence of tobacco smoke, harmful substances are actively released - nicotine, glycerin, many additives. And often aromatic components add a chance that there will be a specific reaction of the body. In such cases, it is likely that heartburn, cough, shortness of breath, migraine will occur. However, manufacturers of electronic cigarettes directly claim that these reactions are associated with the abandonment of tobacco.
How does the disease develop
For a specific response of the body to irritating substances to arise, it is necessary that the immune system forms antibodies to the products of the reaction of smoke and epithelium. Many times increases the risk of this reaction, the presence of inflammation in the respiratory tract.
An allergic reaction to tobacco smoke is dangerous because it occurs not only in smokers. At risk are most often children. Smoking products settle everywhere - on furnishings, walls. They begin to penetrate the body gradually.
Due to the constant irritation of the mucous membranes, many cells die. And the more negative substances enter the body, the more intense this process. If cigarettes with additives, for example, menthol, are used, this increases the risk of allergies due to the negative effects of flavorings available in similar products.
At first, cigarette allergy symptoms are mild. A voice may become more hoarse, sore throat, a person may begin to cough. Most often, rashes appear in the area of the lips, nose, eyes.
Due to the constant development of negative reactions to harmful substances, the body begins to suffer from colds much more often. Due to chronic inflammatory processes, immunity weakens.
At the same time, someone believes that replacing cigarettes with electronic analogues will help get rid of most of these manifestations, but this is nothing more than a delusion. Indeed, in each liquid for these allergen products contains no less. And sometimes even more powerful allergens are included. For example, an allergy to propylene glycol contained in e-cigarette liquids is common. And often the transition to electronic cigarettes only exacerbates the course of the disease. The only way to get rid of allergic reactions to tobacco smoke is to quit smoking - both passive and active.
Diagnostics
It is important that the doctor diagnoses this disease. It is he who during the examination, studying the medical history of the disease will make a verdict. At the same time, there are no verified tests that will determine the presence of an allergy to tobacco. It is generally recommended that contact with tobacco smoke be avoided while monitoring the patient's condition. In cases where there is an improvement, it is believed that the cause of the pathology is precisely smoking.
Treatment
The most important condition for recovery, the very first event carried out in the treatment of this disease, is a complete cessation of smoking and contact with tobacco products. Otherwise, the body continues to receive many allergens.
If the patient prefers to continue smoking, he is prescribed symptomatic therapy. Antihistamines - Zirtek, Gismanal and several others are usually recommended. In some cases, immunomodulators are needed, and vitamins, and healing plants, mixtures can also be used. The duration of treatment is rarely less than 7 days. Most often, drugs of this type are contraindicated in children under 2 years of age. Often, patients resort to alternative medicine, but it must be remembered that fascination with it can only lead to a deterioration in the patient's condition due to delaying treatment. Unconventional methods can only supplement the main course of therapy prescribed by a physician.
Alternative medicine
Most often, the effect of traditional healers is aimed at stopping the symptoms of the inflammatory process, at eliminating sputum when coughing. Most often, decoctions of herbs are used, healing tinctures from chamomile, thyme, and rosehip.
Decoctions are prepared simply: you need to pour 1 tablespoon of herbs with a glass of boiling water, leave the decoction in a water bath for 15 minutes. After let it brew for 10 minutes. Having stretched, begin to use 50 g three times a day. The course of treatment in this way lasts at least 3 months. The increase in the body's immune forces is facilitated by the use of honey. If skin itching, rashes are present, baths with herbs are used in the treatment - celandine and a succession.
Prevention
Prevention of allergies to tobacco is very important in modern conditions, when there are especially many smokers. At the moment, allergic reactions occur in people of any age, any gender. Effective therapy becomes only in cases when the amount of toxins from tobacco that is sufficient for a specific response of the body ceases to enter the body.
Experts believe that due to chronic allergies, malignant tumors develop. In cases where there is a negative reaction to smoking, you must immediately seek medical help. It is best to prevent this disease than to treat it. It will consist in minimizing contacts with tobacco products and strengthening immunity.
Conclusion
In cases where a person suspects that he is developing an allergy to nicotine, he must first stop smoking. It is worth stopping to visit the places where smokers gather. It must be remembered that tobacco products cause both allergies and many serious illnesses, many of which are fatal. Ignoring the symptoms of allergic reactions to cigarettes can lead to asthma, Quincke's edema, anaphylactic shock. Significantly increases the likelihood of suffering from cancer. At the same time, from the moment of quitting passive and active smoking, the patient's condition is rapidly improving.