CDC: Tips from Former Smokers: Jessica S.’s Asthma Tip Ad 

Jessica is my cousin. Aden is my cousin. Second hand smoke DOES hurt children. Plain and simple.

I am terrified of second-hand smoke considering my age (which is 11), so anything remotely related to tabacco, I hate. My dad wants to start chewing tabacco again when it was ne who made him stop. Even though it's not as bad as smoking, I still despise it. Whenever someone smokes in the parking lot, I hold my breath and plug my nose for as long as I can.

My dad quit smoking at the end of college when he realized he was gonna be a dad. I advise you do the same if you’re gonna be a parent soon

One time, I went on a vacation and this lady was smoking right in front of me. When I pass someone who is smoking, I hold my breath until I pass that person. DO NOT SMOKE IN FRONT OF CHILDREN

My asthma is easily triggered by smoke. Both of my parents were smokers. When I moved to a smoke-free environment, my asthma greatly improved, to the point where I don't need regular medication, and I rarely need a rescue inhaler. But when I'm back in a smoke-filled environment, it starts acting up again. So I have no tears when someone whines about their freedom to smoke, because their freedom to smoke infringes on my freedom to breathe.

Both my parents smoked 2+ packs/day. Neither my sister or I smoke, but I developed adult-onset asthma in my early 20s and both my sister and I have serious sinus problems (allergies). We are positive it is a result of long term secondhand smoke exposure. Parents, don't do this to your kids.

I have Asthma. I've been to the hospital many times.😞

@JakeTheHedgehogX5 There is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke. Secondhand smoke causes immediate harm to nonsmokers who breathe it. The best way to reduce your exposure to secondhand smoke is to avoid areas where there are smokers, even outdoors, if possible.

I've been exposed to second hand smoke for my entire life (my mom and a lot of my aunts and uncles smoke, including my grandma). thankfully nothing has happened to me, but I've learned to stay away from cigarette smoke, especially after watching these ads on tv as a little kid

As a 12 year old who developed asthma at 5 and had it until I was 10, I can say that I am very protective of my younger brother who developed asthma from, you guessed it, smoking. It makes me extremely angry when people smoke around him knowing good darn well he has asthma. This woman (doesn’t deserve to be called my stepmom ) knew my brother had asthma and still smoked around him. She would just tell him “go in the other room.” Glad she’s out of my life but I feel bad for her children. I ALWAYS make sure he has his asthma pump when he goes over someone’s house for a sleepover and tell people they can’t smoke around him. I’m scared he might have an asthma attack from someone smoking and if I ever lost him I wouldn’t be able to live with myself thinking I should have done something. My brother shouldn’t have to deal with this at only 9.

If you smoke while pregnant or smoke around anyone, you're a terrible person.

I had asthma too. My favorite part of it was the breather. It was fun for me. The one thing I hate about it was I liked to play around and run, but when I ran, I easily got tired because of asthma. My stamina only lasted for about a few seconds, Also my dad was smoking at that time, now he stopped and I'm very happy because my mom was running out of hope!

I used to have asthma.Not as bad now,but BAD when I was younger (?-8)I used to need 2 inhalers!!I was also affected with how many people in society smoked around me.It is arousing.Never smoke...Not only does it affect you,but the people around you who are trying to help.

I have asthma it's horrible I hate having it🔥I run for 1 min and I'm out of breath🤐it's like when your trying to breath your trying to climb a mountain but the breathing gets harder so I feel as if I'm falling from the mountain and I'm having to climb back over it again👎🏻👎🏻I can't breath when people smoke i feel as if I'm chocking,I feel silly when I have to leave the class room because I can't breath in hot rooms😵everyone looks at me as if I'm doing it for attention but I'm not🤕I'm really bad with it😓I panic over little things I start to cry and then I start to breath to quick💨💨that's when I can't cope🤒

So thankful someone made a commercial like this! I'm 14 and I'm a severe asthmatic and smoking makes me so sick...It's terrible having to hold my breath while walking out the door so I won't have an asthma attack...I'm getting better around smoke, but when I was younger it was the worst thing ever. I'm VERY thankful that there are more strict rules about smoking now, the fact that I can actually go places and leave healthy is amazing. Please be more wise about your smoking choices, it effects us

I feel this way also! I hate breathing in smoke from other people ugh.

I am a former child of second hand smoke. I'm 20 now, and doing fine but I did get somewhat impacted. Now my mother was courteous about how she smoked. She never would let smoke blow near you, or in general didn't smoke if someone was around, but it still lingered through the house. She's been clean for a year, and I'm recovering too. You see I did get second hand, and it affect me. I have a slightly raspy voice from it. Please do your kids, and others a favor and don't smoke around them :)

Banning tobacco products would be an issue for Congress, not a federal agency. CDC works to educate the public on how to prevent disease and lead longer, healthier lives. This campaign encourages smokers to quit by raising awareness of the human suffering caused by smoking and providing access to resources to help smokers quit.

I feel as if i just can't escape secondhand smoke. My mom has started smoking in the last few years, and it kills me (literally). She will not go outside to smoke (no idea why), and she generally smokes at night whilst i try to sleep. She will go into the bathroom and crack a window, but that is not even close to enough. I begin to cough terribly and my throat feels like it is closing up. In the last year or so, i have developed a breathing problem the doctor thinks is allergies. What can i do?

These commercials are great. They are reality and it's something they can do to scare people who smoke, or who could smoke, into stopping or not smoking.

When i smell smoke i just hold my breath, do i still breath in the smoke without inhaling and exhailing??

There is no safe level secondhand smoke exposure, and even low levels can be harmful. The only way to fully protect nonsmokers is to completely eliminate smoking in indoor spaces. Cleaning the air and ventilating buildings or homes cannot completely protect nonsmokers, and neither can holding your breath when you smell smoke. You can inhale toxic chemical from second hand smoke even if you can’t smell them.

I have asthma to and it really sucks I miss doing track

I live in Manitoba, Canada where there is a new law that states you can not smoke in your car if any passenger is under the age of 16. Police will issue a ticket if you get caught. I wish they had that law when I was a kid. I remember choking on my parents smoke like a gas chamber! I would complain and they rolled the window down an inch. All that did was blow the smoke and ashes in my face.

As for smoking around folks...I always ask others do they mine even when they are in MY OWN HOME or Vehicle

I have had asthma my whole life (not for smoking reasons - I was born with it). I always get so mad when I see people smoking around their kids. My parents would have done anything to prevent me from having asthma, and here these parents are carelessly putting their innocent kids at risk. My asthma is not severe, but it is still something I have to deal with on a daily basis. I know I'm lucky. I know many people's asthma is as bad as it is in the video. But I wouldn't wish any kind on anyone

I have asthma and my school was on a field trip and we were walking down town and there was a guy who was smoking you don't know how bad I wanted to throw that cigarette out of his mouth and just walk away but I asked my friends if we could be somewhere else that smoke didn't effect me

Poor kid this is bad guys

All cigarette packs should contain those little black and white codes with a link to this video. Title should be "News about Smoking" or something. Seriously. The CDC needs to recommend banning tobacco products. Disgusting.

I consider that child abuse. I get pissed when I see kids suffering from second hand smoke.

When I first learned about the dangers of secondhand smoke, I avoided breathing every time I would visit my grandmother, who was a smoker. I was told that I sounded as if I had a cold every time I visited her.

Definitely not a fan of second hand smoking and smoking in general I was exposed 2 times today walking home and I have breathing troubles as is not smoking. I’m worried my breathing will get worse again it almost resulted in death when I was born and again when I was 23. I try my best to avoid second hand smoking

HOW COME CIGS AREN'T ILLEGAL.

I remember in middle school, a public speaker came to our school to talk to us about smoking. He told us that whenever we were near someone who was smoking, cough and say you can't breathe. So one day I go to Applebees, and one guys just kept smoking. I dropped to the floor, rolled around and screamed "NO AIR, NO AIR" lol. One lady thanked me when we left because her kid had asthma. I got beat that day when I got home, but it felt good to help another person from second hand smoke :D

Like, even though your lungs are hosed, you're awesome. Way to go, babe!

I am not a child, but people's second hand smoke does the same thing to me. Most times it is walking down the sidewalk, or going into doors with idiots huddled by the doors sucking down cancer sticks. Some days when I spend the night in the hospital I want to punch them in self defense...because they are assaulting me...and laws do not matter...people don't enforce them...so 25 feet from sidewalks or doors? they don't care...then they say as I am gasping for air it's their right. What about mine

I am exposed to second hand smoke at age thirteen everyday of my life. I always have pains in my heart, not just emotionally, but physically. I would love to get help for my family but every time they try to quit or get help, they become monsters. I never even recognize them.

He is my sons best buddy

My mother had really bad asthma for 17 years (1973-1990). In winter, she couldn't even walk to the corner without an attack. Someone told her to take vitamin zinc @ 75mg EVERYDAY with food and vitamin C. At 3 months she was cured. She did have to keep taking the zinc everyday because if she didn't take it, after some weeks the wheezing would begin again. Also, in 1998 my father had to have 3 asthma treatments one day and he was given a bag of asthma medicines to take for life. He did what my mother did and in about 3 months, never again had to take asthma medicines again. Also, I've told many of my clients that have asthma and many have called me several months later to thank me from the bottom of their heart because either they or their loved one no longer has asthma. . (Don't know if it works for children, maybe 10 - 30mg but have absolutely no experience with children).

I love the way she talks!!!

my parents smoked around me my whole life...am i dead?

i have this kind of asthma. nobody in my family has any smoking history.

Please tell me where did you get your doctorate from?

A boy I dated in high school lost his mother when she was only 50. She left behind three children and plenty of beautiful grandchildren. She was an average smoker, too. She smoked carefully to protect her family. It doesn't mean she didn't get lung cancer which killed her very very quickly. She beat the first wave only to die two years later, only two months after the routine check-up she went to BECAUSE of her cancer caught it. It can and does happen to anyone, regardless of habit.

Why smoke in the first place?

Aww poor baby

I have cystic fybrosis. I do stuff like this every day...

have asthma and I only once got smoke in my face.

I have asthma too :( i cant go in the jucussi because the hot air will trigger my asthma so.

I was just replying to that guy. Outright banning is a terrible idea. It's initiatives like yours that make an actual difference.

my mom used to smoke when when was sitting outside with me when I was a kid.. still does.. I suppose I should be like OH NOO... but I don't really give a crap and haven't had any bad side effects, I guess I could say I'm blessed not to have asthma like the poor child in this video.

0:28 no voiceover ?!

Smokers, you should be ashamed of yourselves!

Really now? Tell that two my aunt and cousin who died of lung cancer from smoking.

i need help y'all, what should i do ?? please

@OnlyLauraWins I wasn't saying that it can only be inherited. I'm not ignorant about my own condition, so I'd appreciate it if you don't call me ignorant. They're not pouncing on you and blowing the smoke in your face, so they're not attacking. If they don't want to go somewhere else, it's not that hard for you to go. Yes, I'd defend them then because they're the people who gave me life. I'd go against them to get them help if they got drunk or high. But that isn't the problem.

Smoking is the single leading cause of preventable death and illness in the U.S.. All of the illnesses depicted in these ads can and do result from smoking. This campaign aims to educate the public about the many adverse health conditions for which smoking is a contributing factor. There is no safe level of smoking. Each cigarettes damages your lungs, blood vessels, and cells throughout your body, which can lead to serious, long-term health problems.

My mom, dad, and stepmom smoke so I'm around smoke all the time

CDC’s Office on Smoking & Health addresses health risks related to tobacco use. Alcoholism and Obesity are important health topics, and the CDC is committed to helping Americans live longer, healthier lives through its work in these areas. Smoking, however, is the single leading cause of preventable death, killing more than 443,000 Americans every year. For those who do not die, as many as 8.6 million live with a smoking-related illness that greatly impacts their health and quality of life.

My step dad's grandma lived to be 93 and she smoked 3 packs a day. But what does that have to do with anything? As you say, it doesn't happen to all smokers, but it's just that, that sentence means it still happens to most smokers. How is it natural with all the chemicals in it too? that's like saying milk is natural, fruit, vegies, meat, all that stuff is not natural in today's time. Jumping off a building may kill, or injure some, but there is still damage. Just like smoking, there is damage

@FistOfNoRemorse Whether that was the cause of my asthma or not, I don't care. My parents didn't smoke when my mom was pregnant, and I just came out having it. I doubt absolutely 100% of people would say that that's the cause of my asthma. Asthma isn't caused by secondhand smoke, it's passed down from generation to generation. I'm not saying that smoking isn't toxic, but I'll stand by my parents' right to do whatever they please. If I don't feel endagered, why should they have to be charged?

@SuperBluecheese101 Well it's their desicions, not yours, not mine.

Thank you for your feedback regarding the CDC Tips ads. Banning tobacco products would be an issue for Congress, not a federal agency. CDC works to educate the public on how to prevent disease and lead longer, healthier lives. This campaign encourages smokers to quit by raising awareness of the human suffering caused by smoking and providing access to resources to help smokers quit.

i know how you i have to use that too i got asthma after i got Pneumonia then it got worse after i got it again

I've had asthma my whole life and I've been around my parents' smoke all my life. I've never had an asthma attack because of secondhand smoke, I've had asthma attacks running. I'm on a lot of medication because I can't breathe, not because of the smoke. Sure, smoking's a bad thing, but I disagree with what you're stating here.

...Ill tell people to stop, due to me having asthma...But if I walk up to a thug, and asked him, pray for me I wont get jumped...

they need to make cigarettes illegal :( i be so sad seeing these peoples life go to waste from just somking cigarettes

Your grandfather is a one in a million case. My grandpa also smoked cigars, and it was smoking the cigars that killed him. I remember sitting by his hospital bed when I was five to say goodbye to him before he died. He died from lung cancer. Also, arsenic can also be "natural". UV rays from the sun are "natural" as well, that doesn't mean they're safe or are incapable of being harmful. Your granfather took a gamble and won. My grandpa didn't. My experience is as valid as yours.

@OnlyLauraWins I know exactly what causes my condition, don't say that I'm ignorant. My grandfather had asthma, so I got it through him. And if you know it's within their rights, why do you attack their rights?

The reason why these people die from smoking every year is because they chose to & when they do, it'll be harder for them to live healthy lives. I have a friend who's dad had a tumour Idk where but it was from smoking so he obviously had to quit right away before the problem got worse. So its not all about scaring ppl into quitting but its for our own good so that we don't die of the same cause as them. Its our choice to decide whether to smoke or not. Plain & simple just don't smoke & you're ok

Back in the 1920's and 1930's taking up smoking was one of the "treatments" for asthma. Obviously it was a really bad idea! One of the things that can help reduce the trigger effects on people with asthma (including children) is awareness of the impact of over breathing. Significant reductions in asthma symptoms have been proven by learning methods that decrease what is called "hidden hyperventilation". This means that people can be over breathing - and it feels normal to them. More info.

@funnychic96 Well, saying that asthma can only be genetically inherited & that it could not be caused by cigarette smoke is false & a pretty ignorant statement to come from a person who has the condition. And as for their "rights," a smoker is literally attacking my LIFE by putting me at a higher risk of all types of cancer, so I think it's only self-defense to ask them to go somewhere else. You never answered my question, would you defend your parents' alcoholism or drug addiction?

It's not about banning anything, its about telling the truth about the effects of smoking. This message needs to be out there. The message that there is help to quit. Hopefully people will use this help before they inflict these negative health effects on their loved ones. It is a small counter to the billions of dollars(15.3 billion each year, 41 million every single day) that the tobacco industry continutes to spend to push their products (coupons, point of sale ads, movies).

this ad in particular makes it seem so bad. asthma, which i've been a sufferer all my life, isnt that big of a deal. this ad makes it seem so serious. sure, you have breathing issues, but the only medication is your nebulizer and inhaler. not that serious.

0:06 is that a shot?

No, of course not...

There are so many dumb comments on here. Especially the girl saying that by only smoking 1 cigarette a day none of these atrocities could happen to you. And if you're just so healthy then why are you so worried about these ads?? So what your grandpa wasn't harmed from tobacco? Great for him! The fact of the matter is hes not the only one in the freaking world and these things can and do happen to people, and people need to know that!

What you are missing the point of, Funnychic96, is that even if your parents smoking didn't cause your asthma, it certainly did NOT help it. If anything, it aggravates it more. My mother was a smoker. Yes, my mom had a right to choose to smoke, but guess what? It's a selfish choice, and no self respecting child would dare support such a destructive habit that would cause their parent to die young or to suffer. My mother was diagnosed with COPD at 45. We'll be lucky if she doesn't get cancer.

@funnychic96 Also, people have a right to smoke, but non-smokers have a MUCH MORE IMPERATIVE right to a HEALTHY LIFE without having to breathe in your harmful toxins. It's honestly disgusting.

Alcohol is actually protected under the constitution and banning food is considered to be unjust.

@798unionpipeliner One, never did I say you needed to learn three languages, I said it was sad you could not even learn to spell in ONE, your own. Two, this beautiful country is as much MINE as it is yours, so leave the xenophobia somewhere else. Three, if you're going to insult me about green cards at least realize green cards don't expire. Four, stick to welding, don't try to tell someone their health is not compromised by smoking when it OBVIOUSLY is.

I have asthma its been very bad lately

Haha I hate to pass smokers I hold my breath and it is almost painfull just to breathe it in I hate it I am 13 and will never smoke.

WHAT ABOUT WOOD SMOKE!! When is something going to be done about wood smoke, it's 40 TIMES WORSE than cigarette smoke!

0:16

it makes the government A LOT OF MONEY thats why

How nice the world is... (sarcasm)

Move that kid outta NYC. The smog is prolly the real cause.

thats sad ;-;

yes please go

Then if you're fighting against smoking and helping smokers quit aren't you effectively cutting down on the profit tobacco companies make? So you might as well just support the banning of tobacco products along the way.

why does she blink like that it annoys me

That device to me looks like a vicks vaporizer.

The Government says DON'T DO IT. But it's not illegal because the government makes money off of it

i had saw a lady smoking a cigarette and blowing it into an infants face

The CDC should be ashamed of its abuse of our love of our children for political ends, both in this ad and in their commenting. Feeding unreasonable phobias of children by encouraging them to "hold their breaths" whenever they smell smoke in the air and then telling them that even holding their breath won't protect them from inhaling toxic chemicals is so close to criminal child abuse that it's unbelievable! - MJM