Can an individual experience severe respiratory problems from trace odors of cigarettes?

Question

I quit smoking about a month ago. I visited my parents over night for the first time since quitting. My mom knows I was a smoker and I've told her that I quit. My mom hates smoking and whenever I visit I have made every effort to not smell like cigarettes by washing my hair, coat and clothes. I would not smoke while visiting and would not even bring cigarettes onto her property. My mom claims when I left after the visit, she went to wash the sheets of the bed I slept in and she had what she described as an "asthma attack" and it smelled like cigarettes. She felt like her airways were closing up and she could not breathe. (My mom has not been diagnosed with asthma, but does suffer from seasonal allergies.) I guess I want to know if what she experienced is even medically possible. There is the possibility that there were traces of cigarette smell on my things to which she was sensitive. But what she described, sounded more severe than anything trace smells could have. Please help!

Answer 1

First, congratulations on your first complete month without cigarettes! Here is the low down on nicotine. Many studies have shown that nicotine is a short-acting drug that is eliminated from the body relatively quickly (i.e., within a day or so). However, the effects of acute nicotine withdrawal can be felt for as much as two weeks or more. In addition, the byproducts of nicotine can be detected in the blood for up to a month after you stop smoking. These are trace amounts and unless you bled all over the sheets, it is highly unlikely that you left any residue behind after your visit.

The chances that you "soiled" the sheets and the odor of cigarettes made your mother "sick" are slim and none. Her "asthma attack" was brought on by her delusional mind and, while the reason and resulting attack seemed "real" to her, it was in fact only in her head. Your mother is anti-smoking to a fault. Even though you quit smoking, she is probably trying to rub your past behavior in your face a little before she decides to forgive you.

Keep to your stated goal and do not start smoking again. An "angry" parent and the stress associated with her could be enough to drive you back to that one cigarette. Instead of worrying about what poor old mom is doing, just focus on yourself and the positive. She will come around in due time. You were not the cause of the "asthma attack" - she was.

Answer 2

Yes, it is possible. Not necesarily for asthma, but because she has seasonal allergies, that could have been it. I am personally very glad you quit smoking. Why? "Cause I lost a few close relatives due to their smoking/cancer, emphysema, etc. You are doing a good job of quitting! Take care.

Answer 3

my mom quit smoking, for several months she still smelled of cigarettes. her doctor told her that the nicotine was finding way of getting out of the body. i dought that this would have caused any sort of attack. possibly it would have happened regardless, she just happened to be changing the sheets and that was the last thing she smelled

Answer 4

You cannot have an asthma attack because of a smell!

Answer 5

I work with a lady that has the same thing - and she has some neurological disorder that causes her to have no sense of smell - yet everytime I wear something to work that has been exposed to smokers she loses her voice.
So despite the fact that it sounds not possible, even to me, I have seen it.

Answer 6

yes it possible, goto a doctor and get tested for health problems assocation with your past smoking! I am happy that you quit smoking. good luck.

Answer 7

I highly doubt it. What you described sounds like it's all in her head.