How long do the effects of smoking on immunity last after quitting?
A recent study discovered that smoking tobacco is extremely detrimental to the body, to the extent that it alters an individual’s immune system. This alteration makes them susceptible to a greater number of illnesses and infections, even long after they have stopped smoking.
Although smoking Although rates have been decreasing since the 1960s, they are still. the leading cause In the United States, over 480,000 deaths occur annually as a result of preventable causes.
concise version: For many years, health care providers have warned smokers about the potential dangers of their habit, including serious health issues. lung cancer , heart attack or stroke However, a recent study published in the journal Nature provides an additional rationale for giving up the habit.
What types of effects have been observed on the immune system?
The study reveals that smoking has a detrimental impact on the body’s immune system, leading to a reduced ability to combat infections both in the short term and long term. Additionally, smoking may increase the likelihood of developing chronic inflammatory diseases. rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
Dr. Violaine Saint-André, one of the authors of the study, issued a cautionary statement advising individuals to cease smoking as soon as they can. a specialist The paragraph above can be paraphrased as follows: The researchers at Institut Pasteur in Paris, who specialize in computational biology, want to emphasize the importance of their study’s findings, particularly to young people. Their study indicates that it is crucial to prioritize long-term immunity and avoid starting smoking altogether.
How does smoking weaken the immune system?
The group of researchers analyzed blood samples from 1,000 people ranging in age from 20 to 69 in order to study any changes or patterns over time. The group consisted of an equal number of men and women.
The researchers aimed to observe the impact of 136 factors on immune response, which included aspects such as lifestyle, socioeconomic concerns, dietary habits, as well as age, gender, and genetics. To assess this, they subjected blood samples to common pathogens like E. coli and the flu virus, and evaluated the resulting immune reaction.
Do the risks of smoking on immunity differ according to age or health condition?
Smoking had the greatest influence, out of all the mentioned factors, including body mass index and a hidden herpes virus infection. Its impact was almost equivalent to significant factors like age or gender on the body’s immune response.
“Said Saint-André, it holds significance.”
The immune response of smokers in the study showed some improvement when they quit, but it took years to fully recover, as stated by Dr. Darragh Duffy, a co-author of the study. who leads The department of Translational Immunology, located at the Institut Pasteur.
What are the most important tips for strengthening the immune system after quitting smoking?
“He mentioned that the positive aspect is that it starts to reset. Although there is no ideal time to begin smoking, if you are already a smoker, the optimal moment to quit is at present.”
Additionally, the research revealed that individuals who smoked to a greater extent experienced a correspondingly greater alteration in their immune system’s response.
What resources are available to help people quit smoking?
According to Duffy, reducing any quantity is still beneficial in terms of its impact.
According to the research, smoking appeared to have lasting epigenetic impacts on the immune system’s innate and adaptive responses. While the effect on the innate response diminishes rapidly after quitting smoking, the effect on the adaptive response remains even after quitting.
What are the challenges facing smokers who want to quit?
The innate immune response is the body’s natural defense mechanism against germs through the skin, mucous membranes, immune system cells, and proteins. While it acts quickly, it is not very precise. When the body realizes that the innate response is not sufficient for protection, the adaptive immune system takes over. This system consists of antibodies in the bloodstream and other bodily fluids, as well as B and T lymphocytes that can recognize and respond to previous threats.
Saint-André stated that the main finding of our research is that smoking affects the immune system’s ability to adapt, specifically in relation to B cells and regulatory T cells, as well as having long-lasting effects on epigenetic changes.
What are the health benefits of quitting smoking on immunity?
There are some limitations to the new research. It was conducted on blood samples in a laboratory, so the reaction of the immune system in real-life scenarios may be different. Nevertheless, Duffy suggests that human challenge studies, although smaller in scale, can still provide valuable insights compared to the extensive data obtained from a large collection of blood samples.
What steps can be taken to quit smoking?
Dr. Yasmin Thanavala Someone known as a professor of oncology at the Department of Immunology at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute conducted research on the immune response of smokers. referenced According to the recent study, the researcher described the findings as “an excellent confirmation” of the discoveries she has made throughout her years of research.
In Thanavala’s study, mice were used as substitutes for human blood and were exposed to smoke. The mice who were exposed displayed a less effective clearance of a bacterial infection and had a weaker immune response compared to the mice that were not exposed. Although the lung changes in the mice eventually decreased, they never completely disappeared, according to Thanavala.
One concern the speaker raises about the recent study is that she wants researchers to address its limitation in terms of participant diversity. Specifically, all the participants were French and had low body weights.
The dangers of smoking: A study reveals its effect on the immune system for years.
“We are aware that factors other than smoking can affect our immune response. Our genetic make-up plays a role in determining our immune response. Additionally, there is growing evidence indicating that our body weight, particularly obesity, can also impact our immune response,” stated Thanavala.
Dr. Albert Rizzo, The chief medical officer of the American Medical Association remarked that physicians have been aware for a while that smoking causes inflammation in the lungs. However, this alone does not explain all the issues related to the immune system.
Additionally, it appears to clarify the reason why individuals who were once smokers, despite having stopped smoking, can still experience conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD.
“This study provides valuable insights as it confirms our long-held beliefs and now offers an explanation for them,” commented Rizzo, who was not part of the recent research.
