Why do people with asthma smoke?

Question

I am getting a little annoyed with my coworkers. I cannot wear perfume, have a candle, use air fresheners, use can of air to clean my keyboard, use spray cleaner on my desk, etc to accommodate my asthmatic coworkers for fear of a potential "life threatening" attack yet THEY SMOKE! They are outside the building puffing up a storm every 20 mins and I have to breathe that in. Don't they have asthmatic attacks from smoke? Why does perfume and chemicals bother them but not smoke?

Answer 1

Answer is simple, they aren't asthmatic. If they were smoking would surely cause more repertory problems than you wearing perfume around them. The particle PPM is far more significant when inhaled directly via a cigarette opposed to a much lower particle PPM in uncontrolled open dispersal. They may have an allergy or sensitivity to perfume that's all I can think of.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

I'll give you a hint. You work in an office. it's like babysitting. Most of the people their just look for reasons to complain. And if you want to clean your keyboard get some of those clorox wipes they don't smell that bad and will disinfect the keyboard... Also as a smoker they aren't fitting the image I prefer people to get... Most of the time we are calm and happy and usually, out of respect for non-smokers (plus we're sick of all the lame laws they are trying to inforce making it almost impossible to have a smoke) we try to avoid being around them during our personal cancer-inducing session. Also where the perfume but don't get some really smelly stuff... get like natural type scent... like marijuana smelling perfume (they have that now) or something that only you'll notice. (moose for your hair smells good and isn't very noticeable)... hope I helped...

Answer 4

As an asthmatic who smokes, I believe I am quite well placed to answer this one! (lol, yes I do see the irony!!) My asthma plays up when I come into contact with cats, some perfumes, industrial pollution etc. I am allergic to these things, I am not allergic to cigarette smoke. I can smoke a pack a day and while I will develop a smokers cough, it wont give me an asthma attack. Unfortunately, thats how it is for most asthmatics, some things trigger attacks and some dont. By the way, I dont know of ANY asthmatics who have problems with candles. I burn incense too. Dont overlook the fact that some people are just drama queens!!

Answer 5

I used to smoke and have been smoke free for 2years- I quit after developing asthma. I get bothered by hot weather more than anything. A friend of mine smokes heavily and has severe asthma- fruit triggers her asthma attacks.
To me that was a quitting point, I developed asthma from smoking and no need to make my lungs suffer more.
I would definitely raise this issue up to your office manager. Ask that they have to smoke within so many feet of the door or commons area. *just tell them you have asthma and/or allergies* ;)

Answer 6

I do understand that smoking is an addiction and it is hard for people to overcome addictions. But I have NEVER EVER understood the people with asthma who smoke! If things as simple as you are talking about bother them, then they should not be smoking, period. I would talk to your boss and let him or her know that this is going on. If the people with asthma in your office feel so strongly that the air inside should be kept so clean for them that you can't even clean your keyboard properly, then they should at least have the respect for you and themselves to not smoke while at work. It is ridiculous that they would do such a thing.

Answer 7

They are just stupid. I have asthma and I can't even go to my in laws because they smoke so much, I won't put myself in that kind of position, you sound very thoughtful though, if my in laws were I could go and visit them.

Answer 8

If they have allergy induced asthma (which is very common), smoking likely has no affect on them. My brother is a severe allergy-induced asthmatic and has absolutely no problems with smoking. That really stumped me until he asked the doc why this was. My brother quits about every 3 years, doesn't smoke for 5 years and then starts again. Weird, but I have hopes for him to one day completely kick the habit.

Answer 9

It is a question I ask myself constantly and it is very true the smoke will not choke them, but choking the others - the smell of perfume, candle and air freshener will cause them severe attacks. The answer may be they have asthma because of allergy, blood allergy - allergy is a funny weakness in the human illness - they might get allergic from the smell of perfume, but not nicotine, some even get the reaction out of wheat or rice or pigeons droppings, rats, dust mites, paint or caffeine, but not to nicotine or cigs smoke.

Hopefully they are not smoking inside the office even with the ventilation on - they must go away from the non-smokers - 2nd hand smoke do more harm than for the smokers themselves - people might not know the smell of cooking in the kitchen without good ventilation is more dangerous than the 2nd cigs smoke.

Answer 10

I know people who get asthma from smoking, yet they still smoke. It is an addiction, and a powerful one. Like alcohol,narcotics or anything else yet they can kill both themselves AND their coworkers with this one.(and will-2nd hand smoke gives plenty of people cancer)
Drives me nuts.