A recent study published in the journal Nature sheds light on the long-term impacts of smoking cigarettes on the immune system. The study reveals how smoking tobacco can significantly alter a person's immune response, making it harder for the body to fight off infections both immediately and over time. In addition, smoking increases the risk of developing chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
Researchers monitored blood samples from 1,000 healthy individuals aged 20 to 69 to investigate how various factors, including lifestyle, genetics, and infection, affect immune response. The study found that smoking, body mass index, and latent infections like the herpes virus had the most significant impact on the immune system.
