Is it possible to be allergic to cigarette smoke?
Probably not. Yes, smoking cigarettes is bad for you and being around cigarette smoke can be irritating. However, “[p]eople who experience nasal symptoms after being exposed to strong orders, weather and temperature changes, and cigarette smoke have vasomotor rhinitis, a form of non-allergic rhinitis. People with vasomotor rhinitis are often treated as if they have allergies, but their symptoms don’t improve with typical allergy medications such as antihistamines. This is because histamine is not causing the symptoms.
Instead, triggers—such as an overpowering cologne—irritate the membranes inside the nose, causing it to produce mucus. The mucus either fills up the nasal passages, causing congestion, or runs out of the nose (runny nose) or down the throat (post nasal drip).” Thus far, I have not found any research indicating that there exists an allergy to cigarette smoke. The smoke is an irritant, to be certain, and should be avoided, especially if you seem to have a heightened sensitivity. This is from the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology medical journal, 1998; 81:463-518.
{My apologies, but there is a duplicate answer which I cannot seem to delete}
Probably not. Yes, smoking cigarettes is bad for you and being around cigarette smoke can be irritating. However, “[p]eople who experience nasal symptoms after being exposed to strong orders, weather and temperature changes, and cigarette smoke have vasomotor rhinitis, a form of non-allergic rhinitis. People with vasomotor rhinitis are often treated as if they have allergies, but their symptoms don’t improve with typical allergy medications such as antihistamines. This is because histamine is not causing the symptoms. Instead, triggers—such as an overpowering cologne—irritate the membranes inside the nose, causing it to produce mucus. The mucus either fills up the nasal passages, causing congestion, or runs out of the nose (runny nose) or down the throat (post nasal drip).” Thus far, I have not found any research indicating that there exists an allergy to cigarette smoke. The smoke is an irritant, to be certain, and should be avoided, especially if you seem to have a heightened sensitivity. This is from the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology medical journal, 1998; 81:463-518.
Yes, it is possible. In principle you can be allergic to anything, and cigarette smoke contains a large range of different substances. The most common thing to be allergic to are pollen, molds, dust mites, animals and different kinds of food. So you might be allergic to cigarette smoke, but the smoke might also “just” trigger another allergy you already suffer from – the same thing can happen with perfume or pollution for instance.
