Researchers are continuously uncovering the detrimental impact of smoking on people’s health, even years after they quit. A recent study published in the journal Nature sheds light on tobacco’s lasting effects on the immune system. Despite the tobacco industry’s historical efforts to conceal the dangers of smoking, it is now widely known that tobacco claims the lives of over eight million people worldwide each year, as reported by the World Health Organization.
While the multitude of ways smoking damages the body have been gradually revealed, this new study highlights the long-lasting alterations it causes to the immune system. Specifically, it affects what is known as adaptive immunity, which develops over time as specialized cells in the body remember how to combat previously encountered foreign pathogens.
The study analyzed blood and other samples collected from 1,000 healthy individuals in France over a decade ago. It found that smoking has a more significant impact on adaptive immunity compared to factors such as sleep or physical activity.
Furthermore, the study confirmed previous research demonstrating smoking’s effect on innate immunity, the body’s initial defense against invading pathogens. Although innate immunity rebounds shortly after quitting smoking, adaptive immunity remains affected for years, and even decades, after quitting.
While the precise duration of these changes is still unknown due to the limited sample size, the researchers emphasize that the effects do eventually diminish. Therefore, quitting smoking as early as possible is highly recommended for long-term immunity.
Lead study author Violaine Saint-Andre of France’s Pasteur Institute highlighted the importance of never starting smoking for optimal long-term immunity during a press conference.
While the study does not provide conclusive evidence on the potential health consequences of these immune system changes, the researchers hypothesize that they could increase the risk of infections, cancer, or autoimmune diseases.
Another study, recently published in the journal NEJM Evidence, aimed to determine the extent to which quitting smoking reduces the risk of disease and premature death. This study encompassed 1.5 million individuals from the United States, Canada, Norway, and the UK, including active smokers, nonsmokers, and former smokers.
According to the study, it takes approximately 10 years for the average life expectancy of individuals who quit smoking to reach the same level as nonsmokers. The researchers emphasize the importance of quitting as soon as possible, as certain benefits can be observed as early as three years after quitting. Although the positive effects were noticeable regardless of age, they were more pronounced for individuals under 40.
These findings underscore the critical importance of quitting smoking to protect and preserve one’s health. The long-lasting effects on the immune system serve as a compelling reminder of the harm caused by tobacco. By quitting smoking, individuals can significantly reduce their risk of disease and improve their overall well-being.
Source: The Manila Times
