04th Jan 2009
Cigarette smoke makes flu and viral infections worse
Scientists have known about it for years, but now scientists have an explanation. Viral symptoms that are often mild in non-smokers can make smokers seriously ill. They used to think smoke caused the immune system not to respond properly, but now evidence is showing that might be wrong.
Yale ran an experiment on mice, exposing them to cigarette smoke over the course of two weeks. Then they infected them with a “mimic” flu virus. The immune system in the mice killed the virus like it normally would, but the exaggerated inflammation caused increased levels of tissue damage.
Essentially, instead of the immune system under-reacting to the infection, it over-reacts to it. The increase attack from the immune system causes the damage to your body and makes you more susceptible to future infections. “It’s like smokers are using the equivalent of a sledge hammer, rather than a fly swatter, to get rid of a fly” one scientists said.
Not only are you more prone to future infections, the over-reaction also causes harm to your body when it happens. The mice exposed to cigarette smoke and the flu had accelerated airway scarring, and emphysema. “If the exaggerated responses are verified in human studies, it will be the first explanation for why viral infections are more serious in smokers,” said Elias. “Once verified, we can find ways to prevent the destruction of lung tissue and the higher illness and death among smokers”.
Of course they will work on cures, but is it really worth it? Just put the cigarette down now instead of waiting for a cure, because they probably won’t ever have a cure. Just a way to keep you alive longer. I’m obviously not a scientists, but it’s hard to see how this scarring in your throat and airway passages wouldn’t be permanent. Just another reason to stop smoking today!
Tell me what you think of this new discovery in our comment section below!
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