Teenagers and transition to adult asthma care

9) Smoking

2 teenagers at the skate park

© Crown copyright

Your healthcare team should ask about smoking

  • Is the teenager an active smoker?
  • Passive? Are they exposed to their friends smoke?
  • Family? Are they exposed to smoke at home?
  • Do they like smoking?
  • Discuss with them what the effect of smoking has on asthmatic lungs.
  • Discuss how smoking can reduce the effect inhaled medicine.
  • Smoking Cessation advice should be given both for the teenager and their family.

For more about smoking see the topic on ‘Smoking and risky behaviour‘.