Can Cigarette Smoke Be Considered an Allergen?
Almost instantaneously, your eyes burn and flood with tears, your nose drips like a facet – then you notice that the tickle in your throat starts to feel more like tightness. In only a few moments, you start to feel short of breath and find that it difficult to swallow. It seems as though all of these unpleasant symptoms hit at once – and all amidst chorus of uncontrollable sneezes and coughs that leaves your head feeling tight and your throat raw.
What is the cause of this sudden combination of symptoms? Perhaps pollen counts are especially high for this time of year? Or maybe it’s the second hand smoke from the guy next to you with a cigarette?
No matter the cause, many people find that the symptoms for both pollen (not to mention other allergens) and secondhand smoke feel the same. But, the truth is that only one of these two would cause a true allergic reaction – and the other simply would not.
The bottom line is this: it is impossible to be allergic to cigarette smoke.
Why Smoke Isn’t an Allergen
All allergens (the particles that trigger allergic reactions) contain some sort of proteins produced by either by plants, fungi, animals or insects. It is the protein in allergens that trigger an allergic reaction – and truth be told, there is no protein in cigarette smoke. The combustion (burning) of the tobacco leaves, paper and additives in a cigarette destroys the chances of cigarette smoke being considered an allergen. All of the particles put off by a cigarette are carbon (not that inhaling carbon is good for you either).
Since second-hand smoke isn’t a true allergen, it does not create the same immune response (i.e. allergy attack) that a grain of pollen would. Or course there is no denying that smoke can aggravate and irritate underlying allergies, but it really cannot be considered the cause of them. Your mast cells (the cells that cry “wolf” whenever a particular allergen come in contact with them), only keep tabs on the protein signatures of potentially dangers body invaders, like germs and by accident, allergens. This means that there is no histamine (the chemical your body makes to battle allergens) to cause your runny nose, sneezing, and increased mucous production.
Now, there are some cases of true tobacco allergy, but these are very rare and are caused by direct contact with live tobacco plants or leaves. So, unless you live on a tobacco plantation, it is highly unlikely that you will ever develop real tobacco allergies.
Believing In “Smoke Allergies” Can Harm You
Because allergies are a valid and widely recognized condition, calling your sensitivity to cigarette smoke “allergies” seems to give it more credence. Also, calling the problem a “smoke allergy” makes sense when you break it down. Exposure to smoke = Allergy-like symptoms, and therefore they are “smoke allergies”.
Still, assuming that cigarette or cigar smoke causes your allergic suffering can actually hinder your chances of finding relief from the symptoms. It’s comparable to treating yourself for a cold when you actually have a case of pneumonia.
So, if it’s not “smoke allergies” what else could it be?
Conditions Are Often Mistaken for “Smoke Allergies”
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Vasomotor Rhinitis: Vasomotor rhinitis will cause all of the same annoying, persistent, instantaneous and maddening symptoms associated with allergies. This is because vasomotor rhinitis is the evil twin of allergic rhinitis (nasal allergies). The worst part is that though the shelves of your local drug store may be crammed with different medications for allergies, very few of these will actually diminish the effects of vasomotor rhinitis. This is because the pills that are so often popped for allergies work by interrupting the histamines made by your immune system that react to an allergen – if you have vasomotor rhinitis, the problem starts with your nervous system, not you immune system.
You might have Vasomotor Rhinitis if:
1. You are highly sensitive to other elements like perfume, strong odors, changes in weather, changes in temperature, or even spicy foods.
2. Walking into a slightly warmer (or cooler) room makes your nose runny or feel completely dry.
3. Antihistamine medications do not alleviate the symptoms.
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Allergies that are Aggravated by Smoke:
Allergies may be under control, but adding the additional strain of second hand smoke may cause them to flare up. Maybe that spec of pollen or your flake of dander from your friend’s dog may not be enough to cause a flare-up normally, but one cigarette can make all the difference! Everyone knows the phrase “the straw that broke the camels back” – well, I guess smoke would be considered more of a brick than a piece of straw. The heavy, choking concoction of pollutants that comprises cigarette smoke usually is enough to push your immune system over the edge. Though a tiny pollen grain normally wouldn’t trigger an allergic reaction – the added strain of cigarette smoke makes it an enormous problem.
You might Smoke-Aggravated Allergies if:
1. You know that you are allergic to other things like pollen, pets, mold or dust mites.
2. You have eczema (skin allergies), asthma or food allergies.
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Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS): If notice the same group of symptoms occurring and 
reoccurring from exposure to a chemical substance, then you might have a syndrome called Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, or MCS. There is very little known about the underlying causes of MCS due to insufficient scientific evidence to link the symptoms of MCS to a specific cause. It appears that certain environmental chemicals can cause an array of symptoms that often resemble an allergic reaction or the flu. It could caused by formaldehyde commonly used to construct furniture; or VOC’s found in interior paints; or wall-to-wall carpeting (which is made of some very nasty chemical substances); or even cigarette smoke.
Your might have MCS if:
1. You often have episodes of flu-like or allergy-like symptoms that only occur only from being in certain buildings, cars, or environments where pollutants are present.
2. After leaving a certain area, your symptoms quickly start to vanish (whereas a true allergy attack can take several minutes to several hours to abate).
These three conditions could very well be the true cause of the symptoms associated with “smoke allergies”. All three of these conditions can cause very severe, painful and irritating symptoms when cigarette smoke is present.
How to Treat "Smoke Allergies"
- Consult your doctor. If your sensitivity to smoke is causing your daily life to be interupted and uncomfortable, it is worth talking to a professional. You may want to seek a referal to a local allergist who can help you to determine whether you have underlying allergies that are complicating the situation.
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Avoid smoke. This is often more easily said than done. In cases where family members or friends are smoking, you can ask them to smoke outside, since this really is the best way to ensure that the least amount of smoke will be present in your home.
- Invest in clean air. If even the scent of smoke from someone’s clothing caused your symptoms (or if someone cannot go outside to smoke), it is definately a worthwhile investment to buy a smoke removal air filter like the Dynamic CT500 made by Dynamic Air Quality Solutions. Not only will an air filter remove residual smoke particles, but it will also cut down on the number of airborne allergens in your home.
