As part of National Asthma week, Asthma Australia has launched a campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of passive smoking and its link to asthma in children. Asthma Australia president Belle Cheney said one in four Australian children currently have asthma. Passive smoking occurs when non-smokers inhale either exhaled smoke or smoke from a burning cigarette. Children exposed to passive smoking are 1.4 times more likely to have asthma. Asthma is Australia's most widespread chronic health problem, affecting more than two million people, and resulting in over 700 deaths each year.
Children are at risk from passive smoking even before they are born.
Around 24 per cent of Australian women smoke during pregnancy, risking permanent damage to their baby's lungs which can result in reduced lung growth and an increased risk of developing asthma. Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the respiratory system that makes breathing difficult.