Environmental tobacco smoke avoidance

Environmental tobacco smoke causes wheeze in infants and aggravates asthma. All children benefit through avoidance of environmental tobacco smoke. 

Avoid smoking and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, particularly during pregnancy and early childhood (B). Tobacco smoke should be also removed from work places (B). 

A primary component of COPD management is avoidance of or reduced exposure to risk factors. Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke is a major risk factor, and smoking cessation is the most effective strategy to reduce the risk of developing COPD and to slow or stop disease progression. The cost-effectiveness of smoking-cessation interventions compares favorably with interventions made for other major chronic diseases. The importance of smoking... 

However, it seems reasonable to support any activity that reduces occupational and environmental exposure to sensitizing and irritant agents, and inert aerosols and dust. Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in early life ought to be avoided, and breastfeeding should be encouraged for the first 4-6 months of life. 

Cigarette smoking is the primary modifiable risk factor for the development of COPD however, the disease can be attributed to a combination of risk factors that results in lung injury and tissue destruction. The risk factors associated with the development of COPD can be divided into host factors and environmental factors (Table 27-1), and commonly, the interaction between these risks leads to expression of the disease. Host factors, such as genetic predisposition, may not be modifiable but are important for identifying patients at high risk of developing the disease. Environmental factors, such as tobacco smoke and occupational dust and chemicals, are modifiable factors that, if avoided, may reduce the risk of disease development. 

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