Smoking’s impact on immune system can last long after quitting
Smoking tobacco leaves smokers more vulnerable to disease and infection even years after they’ve quit, a new study found.
The research showed how smoking decreases the body’s ability to fight off infection over time and may also put someone at a higher risk of contracting a chronic disease such as lupus.
The researchers looked at blood samples from a group of 1,000 healthy people ages 20 to 69.
They exposed the blood samples to common germs like E. coli bacteria and the flu virus and measured the immune response.
Smoking, body mass index and a latent infection caused by the herpes virus had the most impact, with smoking creating the largest change.
Full story: Nature
The article presented here is intended to inform you about the broader media perspective on dentistry, regardless of its alignment with the ADA's stance. It is important to note that publication of an article does not imply the ADA's endorsement, agreement, or promotion of its content.