Tobacco smoke can cause a wide range of medical conditions. While these conditions pose health risks on their own, many can also greatly complicate an asthma condition. These conditions include:

• Allergies. Exaggerated reaction of the immune system to harmless substances to which people are sensitive. Tobacco smoke can worsen the symptoms of an allergy by exacerbating a person’s respiratory condition.
  
  
• Bronchitis. Inflammation of the mucous membranes in the bronchial tubes. Children are susceptible to developing this condition from second-hand tobacco smoke.
  
  
• Pneumonia. Inflammation of the lungs. Children with asthma are much more likely to develop this condition when in regular contact with second-hand tobacco smoke.
  
  
• Middle ear conditions (e.g., otitis media). Ear infection or buildup of fluid in the ears. This condition is commonly experienced by children who live in homes with smokers.
  
  
• Cancer. Growth or tumor caused by the abnormal or uncontrolled growth of cells in the body. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified second-hand tobacco smoke in the most dangerous cancer-causing category.
  
  
• Ischemic heart disease. Condition characterized by the narrowing of the blood vessels leading to the heart. Second hand smoke damages blood vessels, limiting an individual’s activity and causing increased risk to the heart.
  
  
• Low birth weight. Abnormally low weight of a newborn infant. This condition has been directly linked to second–hand smoke.
  
  
• Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Sudden and unexpected death of an apparently healthy baby while sleeping. Research indicates that the infants of mothers who smoke have twice the risk of SIDS.