Asthma, Children and Smoking in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Children in Grand Rapids and across West Michigan are especially sensitive to tobacco smoke. Their lungs are smaller, more delicate, and still developing. When children live in homes where people smoke or vape, they are more likely to:

  • Develop asthma or breathing problems
  • Have more frequent asthma symptoms
  • Need urgent care or emergency room visits for asthma flare-ups

This is especially important in Grand Rapids, where cold winters, indoor heating, and spending more time inside can increase exposure to second-hand smoke and worsen asthma symptoms.

How Second-Hand Smoke Affects Children with Asthma

Second-hand smoke (also called passive smoke) is the smoke that comes from a burning cigarette, cigar, or e-cigarette, and the smoke exhaled by a person who is smoking or vaping.

For children with asthma in Grand Rapids:

  • Asthma symptoms may start earlier in life
  • Coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath are more frequent
  • Asthma flare-ups may be more severe and harder to control
  • They may need more asthma medications or hospital visits

Even brief exposure in a car, apartment, or at a friend’s house can trigger symptoms. In winter, when windows are closed and ventilation is reduced, smoke and aerosol from vaping can build up indoors and increase risk.

Smoking During Pregnancy and Asthma Risk

Smoking during pregnancy, or being exposed to second-hand smoke during pregnancy, can seriously affect a developing baby. This is a concern for families throughout Kent County, including Grand Rapids, Wyoming, and Kentwood.

Smoking in pregnancy increases the risk of:

  • Miscarriage
  • Stillbirth
  • Complications during birth
  • Preterm delivery (before 37 weeks)
  • Low birth weight, which makes babies more vulnerable to infections
  • Weaker lung development that may persist into adulthood
  • Weaker immune system
  • The child being overweight or obese later in childhood

Smoking and second-hand smoke during pregnancy also:

  • Increase the risk of childhood wheeze
  • Adversely affect the child’s lung function
  • Increase the risk of the child developing asthma or having more severe asthma

Even if a pregnant person does not smoke, being around others who smoke or vape at home, in cars, or at work can still harm the unborn baby.

Smoking Around Babies and Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI)

Smoking around infants, or exposing them to second-hand smoke in the home or car, increases the risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI), previously known as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or “cot death.”

In Grand Rapids, where homes are often tightly sealed in colder months, smoke can linger in furniture, carpets, and clothing (third-hand smoke), continuing to expose babies even when no one is actively smoking.

Smoking or vaping around infants increases the risk of:

  • SUDI
  • More respiratory infections (colds, bronchitis, pneumonia)
  • Ear infections and hearing problems
  • More severe wheezing and breathing difficulties

Keeping your home and car completely smoke-free is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your baby’s health.

E‑Cigarettes, Vaping and Asthma in Children

E‑cigarettes and vaping devices are often marketed as safer than traditional cigarettes. While they may contain fewer toxic substances than tobacco cigarettes, they still:

  • Contain potentially harmful chemicals and fine particles
  • May irritate the airways and lungs
  • Can trigger asthma symptoms in some children and teens
  • Have unknown long-term effects, especially on developing lungs

For children and teens in Grand Rapids:

  • Vaping may worsen asthma symptoms
  • Second-hand aerosol from vaping can irritate the lungs of children nearby
  • Flavored products may encourage experimentation and nicotine addiction

Because we do not fully understand the long-term impact of vaping on children’s lungs, it is safest for children and teens with asthma to avoid inhaling any smoke or aerosol, including from e‑cigarettes.

Tobacco and E‑Cigarette Laws in Michigan

Michigan has laws to reduce exposure to second-hand smoke and vaping aerosol in public places. These laws help protect children and people with asthma in Grand Rapids and throughout the state.

In Michigan, you generally cannot smoke or vape:

  • In enclosed workplaces
  • In enclosed areas of restaurants, cafes, and many dining areas
  • In most public buildings and government offices
  • In many healthcare settings, including hospitals and clinics
  • In schools and on school property
  • In certain outdoor areas where children are present

Specific policies may vary by city and county. Many Grand Rapids healthcare campuses, including Spectrum Health and Trinity Health Grand Rapids, are completely smoke-free and vape-free, both indoors and outdoors.

There are fines for people who break these laws. For the most current information on Michigan tobacco and e‑cigarette regulations, visit:

Why Quitting Smoking Matters for Your Child’s Asthma

Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your own health and for your children’s lungs—especially if your child has asthma or is at risk of developing asthma.

When you quit smoking or vaping, you:

  • Reduce your child’s exposure to second-hand smoke and aerosol
  • Lower the chance that your child will develop asthma
  • Help improve asthma control if your child already has asthma
  • Reduce the risk of SUDI for babies
  • Decrease the risk of respiratory infections and ear infections
  • Improve your own lung and heart health

Parents and caregivers in Grand Rapids are powerful role models. Children who grow up in smoke-free homes are less likely to start smoking or vaping as teenagers.

Quitting can be difficult, and many people need several attempts before they succeed. But support is available locally and statewide.

Quit Smoking Resources in Grand Rapids and Michigan

If you live in Grand Rapids or West Michigan and want to quit smoking or vaping, you don’t have to do it alone. A combination of counseling, support, and medications can greatly improve your chances of success.

Local Medical Support

You can start by speaking with your:

  • Primary care doctor (GP) – at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, or other local clinics
  • Pediatrician – especially if your child has asthma
  • Pharmacist – many pharmacies in Grand Rapids can provide advice on nicotine replacement therapy

Your healthcare provider may recommend:

  • Nicotine patches
  • Nicotine gum or lozenges
  • Nicotine inhalers or sprays
  • Prescription medications to help reduce cravings

Local Asthma and Children’s Resources

  • Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital (Spectrum Health) – provides pediatric asthma care, education, and resources for families in Grand Rapids
  • Pulmonology and allergy clinics at local health systems – for asthma diagnosis, management, and action plans

Michigan Quit Support

  • Quitline: 1‑800‑QUIT‑NOW (1‑800‑784‑8669) – Free Michigan tobacco quitline offering coaching, support, and sometimes free nicotine replacement for eligible callers
  • Michigan Tobacco Quitlink – Online tools, text support, and coaching (via MDHHS website)

Protecting Children with Asthma in Grand Rapids: Practical Steps

To reduce asthma triggers and protect children’s lungs in Grand Rapids:

  • Make your home and car 100% smoke-free and vape-free
  • Do not smoke or vape near children, indoors or outdoors
  • Ask visitors not to smoke or vape in your home or around your child
  • Avoid places where people are smoking or vaping, especially in enclosed or crowded spaces
  • Dress your child in layers in cold weather so they can breathe comfortably without overexertion in extreme temperatures
  • Work with your child’s doctor to create an asthma action plan and review it regularly

Where to Get Help in Grand Rapids

  • Your GP or pediatrician – for asthma management and quitting support
  • Local hospitals and health systems:
    • Spectrum Health / Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    • Metro Health
    • Mercy Health (and affiliated clinics)
  • Kent County Health Department – information on tobacco prevention, asthma education, and local programs
  • Michigan Quitline: 1‑800‑QUIT‑NOW (1‑800‑784‑8669) – free quit support
  • National Asthma resources – such as the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America and National Asthma Council (U.S.) for education and action plans

Key Points

  • Children’s lungs are still developing and are especially vulnerable to tobacco smoke and vaping aerosol.
  • Exposure to second-hand smoke increases the risk of childhood wheeze, asthma, and poorer lung function.
  • Smoking during pregnancy and around infants increases the risk of serious health problems, including sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI).
  • Quitting smoking or vaping reduces your child’s risk of developing asthma or having worse asthma symptoms.
  • Grand Rapids families can access local healthcare providers, hospitals, and Michigan quit services to get support with quitting and asthma management.