March 10, 2025

Smoke Screen: The Immune System's Battle Against Cigarettes

10 minutes

Story at-a-glance

Cigarette smoke weakens your body's immune cells, making it harder to fight off respiratory infections and increasing the risk of lung diseases
Maternal smoking during pregnancy triggers abnormal immune responses in children, leading to higher risks of allergic conditions such as asthma and atopic dermatitis
Smoking alters immune system function, causing prolonged inflammation and genetic damage that creates an environment conducive to malignant cell growth
Smoking impacts both innate and adaptive immune responses, with some short-term inflammatory changes reversing after quitting, while adaptive immune modifications persist longer
Quitting smoking requires identifying personal triggers, avoiding e-cigarettes, maintaining an active lifestyle and using mind-body techniques to manage cravings

...more

By Dr. Mercola

4.6

14881,488 ratings

March 10, 2025

10 minutes

Story at-a-glance

Cigarette smoke weakens your body's immune cells, making it harder to fight off respiratory infections and increasing the risk of lung diseases
Maternal smoking during pregnancy triggers abnormal immune responses in children, leading to higher risks of allergic conditions such as asthma and atopic dermatitis
Smoking alters immune system function, causing prolonged inflammation and genetic damage that creates an environment conducive to malignant cell growth
Smoking impacts both innate and adaptive immune responses, with some short-term inflammatory changes reversing after quitting, while adaptive immune modifications persist longer
Quitting smoking requires identifying personal triggers, avoiding e-cigarettes, maintaining an active lifestyle and using mind-body techniques to manage cravings

...more