I know of some people who have had lupus and who have died from lupus because they wouldn't stop smoking. I was just reading on some different sites and came across this, i thought i should share...
Smoking and Infections
People with lupus are more susceptible to infections: Respiratory infections are among the most common. Smoking cigarettes increases the risk of pneumococcal pneumonia and chronic bronchitis. Researchers also report that passive smoking, or regular exposure to secondhand smoke, also raises the risk of having this type of pneumonia.
Smoking or being around people who smoke may increase your risk of pneumococcal pneumonia.
Smoking and Cardiac Complications
People with lupus on long-term moderate to high doses of prednisone have been found to develop heart disease (atherosclerosis) 20 to 30 years earlier than the general population. It's not uncommon for angina (heart muscle pain) and even heart attacks to occur in people with lupus as young as 30. Smoking increases the risk of coronary artery disease. Smoking also increases the risk of heart attack in diabetics (insulin or non-insulin dependent).
If you smoke and have lupus you greatly increase the risk of damaging your hear
So even if YOU don't smoke, the people around you that do could be harming you.
My husband smoked for 40 years before he went into full arrest twice when we were in the ER for 6 minutes. I am extremely lucky he is alive. He has not had a cigarette since, its been 17 years now. I can't imagin life without him
Cindy
I stopped smoking and have not had as many respitory infections. Plus the coast now is outragious.
Good for you, pb. I am sure quitting will have a positive effect on your health. Well done!
I would like to also point out, if you ALREADY have lung and heart damage it is permanent and quitting smoking will not fix it. while I agree smoking is a really bad idea for anyone, being a smoker for some 35 years now I've no desire to quit, lupus has taken so much already I just plain refuse to give up one more thing to it, as stupid as that sounds it just the way it is for me.
I've had asthma since I was in my late 20s, My first asthma attack sent me to the ER. After that, we moved to the country and I blamed my asthma, and respiratory infections on the allergens and the dust from the harvest. After my divorce in '08, I moved to the City in 2010 with my new husband. Now we are planning to move to the country and I was concerned my asthma would return, until I read this. I was surrounded by second hand smoke all my life until my divorce. My symptoms disappeared with the smoke.