Harmful Smoking Effects on Immune System Functions

There are harmful smoking effects on immune system functions.

The facts on the smoking effects on the body show that you can develop a weak immune system, but if you stop smoking cigarettes it is possible to build up your immune system again.

As early as 1982 the decline in immune system functions in smokers was noted in a study that showed one of the smoking effects on the body was an increased incidence of illness due to the influenza virus. In other words, smokers were more likely to develop influenza than non-smokers.

JD Kark, M Lebiush, and L Rannon (1982) Cigarette smoking as a risk factor for epidemic a(h1n1) influenza in young men. New England Journal of Medicine Volume 307:1042-1046

"We conclude that smoking is a major determinant of morbidity in epidemic influenza and may contribute substantially to incapacitation in outbreaks in populations that smoke heavily."

Harmful Smoking Effects on Immune System Functions

There can be no doubt that smoking affects the way your immune system functions. The facts on smoking show that in almost all cases the level and types of immune cells are decreased or at least their ability to respond vigorously is impaired.

Evidence of the harmful smoking effects on the body and immune system functions:

• increased infection rates after surgery


• increased rates of pneumonia. Cigarette smoking is the strongest independent risk factor for invasive pneumococcal disease among adults who have no existing illness or reason to have a weak immune system.


• increased mortality rates from acute infectious illness


• increased morbidity rates and recovery time from infectious illness


• higher incidence of infectious illness especially respiratory illness including upper respiratory viruses that cause more coughs and colds (See What Causes Asthma in Children and Clogged Eustachian Tube -Smoking Facts About Middle Ear Infections)


• more days lost from work due to illness


• increased rates of gum disease from infection


• smoking has been shown to impair the ability of your white blood cells to vigorously fight off invading pathogens.

Facts on Smoking Fiction

Have you even met a smoking horse? Quite frankly horse owners would never hear of such a thing because they want to protect the health of their animals.

Even if you think that your immune system is serving you well as a smoker, your time is running out.

Eventually you will get sick.

If you survive your illness you can expect more complications and a longer recovery period than a nonsmoker.

The human body is wonderfully intelligent and capable of self repair. This is especially true of the immune system.

If you stop smoking cigarettes and remove the constant assault on your body that weakens your immune system, it is possible to build up your immune system again.

With time and the right building blocks provided by good nutrition and exercise, your immune system functions will become more robust again and provide you with protection from invading pathogens.

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