MPs told of smoke-free relief
01 July 2007

New research to be presented at Westminster on 2 July to mark the launch of the British Association of Stop Smoking Practitioners, suggests that millions of people in England will benefit from smoke-free public places from day one.

Researchers for Asthma UK, the British Thoracic Society and Action on Smoking and Health questioned over 2,600 adults - including 1,200 who have asthma - to discover how other people’s smoke affects the lives of England’s 3.49million adults with asthma.

Previous opinion research conducted by Asthma UK has shown that for 46% of people with asthma, smoke-free public places were the most important issue of the last general election. The new research finds that four out five back the new law and one in three expect to go to pubs more often now that the threat from smoke induced asthma attacks has been tackled.

Seventy-seven percent of adults with asthma reported that they were bothered by tobacco smoke in public places. Although the average for all adults (whether they have asthma or not) was not far behind (74%) the big difference was why they were bothered.

In the general population the most common complaint was the smell (69%) and a spoiled night out (61%). By contrast people with asthma stressed health issues including breathlessness and asthma attacks as the basis for their objections.

The study found that smoking was just as common among people with asthma as in the wider population but 58% of people with asthma say they intend to quit, including 45% who intend to quit within a year of 1 July.

James Mack is an ex-smoker with asthma who now runs quit groups in a local pub as a volunteer. Commenting on the report he said: ‘Smoking and asthma don’t mix. If you have asthma second-hand smoke can make your symptoms worse, although you often won’t get the full effect until hours later when you are back home. Smoking can also block the effects of some asthma drugs so you’re not just attacking your own lungs, you’re robbing them of their main protection too.’

Martin Dockrell of Action on Smoking & Health added: ‘This law was never about making people stop smoking. It is about protecting the rest of us and I can’t think of anyone who needs more protection from second-hand smoke than the 4.4 million adults and children with asthma in England.

‘For most people smoke-free legislation will make their working and social lives more comfortable but for people with asthma it will open a door to a new and freer life.’

Dr Lawrence McAlpine, Chair of the BTS Tobacco Committee said:
‘Many smokers, with or without asthma intend to quit over the next year. Many will go it alone, others will seek the help of hypnotists and acupuncturists even though there is not a shred of scientific evidence to suggest that would work. This is an area where we know what works and we know that you double your chance of quitting for good if you use an NHS trained Stop Smoking Professional.’

Jenny Versnel, Executive Director of Research and Policy at Asthma UK said: ‘For most people 1 July will represent freedom from evenings out spoiled by other people's smoke but for people with asthma it will mean they can finally go out with friends and workmates to pubs free from the fear of a life threatening asthma attack.’