Smoking Weakens Lung Defenses, Increases Susceptibility to Infections

[{"selector":"#anim-f8203bd1-0391-4241-aba6-e518303ebf98","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-67b2949e-3910-44fb-9782-8f4d1dab93fc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8852e302-db66-4ec8-ab0f-946d430437fa","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-09d4d6c8-b25c-431f-8b4c-f1425b6735c2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-122.3301%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Smoking Weakens Lung Defenses, Increases Susceptibility to Infections Tejal Somvanshi

Australian scientists reveal cigarette smoke alters lung immune cells' ability to fight infections, increasing risks of respiratory diseases

[{"selector":"#anim-3356c20c-5bc8-45f3-93ae-e23dd17182a9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7b37119d-97b4-44a0-8853-ea2b5a12591d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.50632%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e971d1a9-47b1-4474-a8ab-84110261b091","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-00224476-17ac-4ae6-8ed1-e5afb97e2575","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3e5753be-6452-4a52-9c16-5926a6beaf13","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Geri Tech (Pexels)

Smoke chemicals disrupt MAIT cells - natural defense system in lungs - by interfering with MR1 protein function.

[{"selector":"#anim-82dd7fad-9b72-4759-9f48-4a1ecce54de7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bb34e30b-af9a-42d3-abad-eaa5d6e7b543","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 195.52108%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fd800326-ac34-45fc-8515-c86599be8c03","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-57921c5f-ce1b-4663-848b-f1d05c50c5a3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -111.1955%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3cfdedeb-1074-42f8-9ddb-4f05b6c3935e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Erdem Orhan (Pexels)

E-cigarette flavorings contain benzaldehyde derivatives that affect lung immunity like cigarette smoke.

[{"selector":"#anim-35991743-d2e7-483a-8349-2e52b1308cec","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ca7bcc8b-6036-4ff2-b0ba-c6e8194f43e5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.58885%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e8b5935d-0199-4122-901f-95bfbf72064a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e3fc43a0-41fd-4060-86fd-456ae6e8c9f2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(113.60759%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b40162c4-b8bc-440c-b0d5-a2dd67333cfb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Geri Tech (Pexels)

Second-hand and third-hand smoke exposure causes identical disruption to lung defense mechanisms.

[{"selector":"#anim-3e92d627-c065-4d7d-968a-941eef771b52","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d5e72ba7-213c-41de-8f02-8a5b6b18017b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 247.27677%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-435df63f-6fc1-419c-ab4e-2877f69669dd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8143fa70-2ec2-4bcc-9077-1f4e44cdd08f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-feb5a0e6-62c4-47c6-a215-309caf6db6e1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Leon Kohle (Pexels)

COPD, ranked third in global death causes, links directly to smoke-damaged lung immunity.

[{"selector":"#anim-52c24b72-fa85-477a-8d5d-3dac6baa75f3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c6f1fea7-fd84-42d1-b563-1304e2ba8108","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1b3e018f-62e0-4276-8195-dd7b95bd829f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1d014b82-c313-4afc-90e7-c388d4c964cb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cba47530-1fa6-409b-9763-fc3398987076","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Yassir Abbas (Pexels)

Lab mice without MAIT cells showed protection against smoke-induced COPD and reduced lung inflammation.

[{"selector":"#anim-296d358b-b436-43e4-8123-5fdbc129b852","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-faf7b63a-1bca-457f-87c0-9802ac051740","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 246.29639%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b33108a5-1749-4027-9cab-feca0d36b649","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0c24f5de-5354-4880-9267-dc8268bc0017","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-23b98a88-afc6-4d72-99ca-bee497cb2552","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Sed "Creatives" Sardar (Pexels)

Research explains increased flu infection risks in smokers and those exposed to smoke.

[{"selector":"#anim-189e50a0-8e1b-4c52-96fa-5728bfe1e618","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7f4ab3b7-6793-4eb2-a15b-7b1078779878","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-90f8faba-adc7-472b-af1e-92c0febc1637","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-42eca3ba-b7bb-4fba-b917-4a76f5de5ea3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eb561977-cf8b-44cb-aad1-21b09d19e39a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Kseniya Korotkaya (Pexels)

Scientists aim to develop better treatments by studying specific MAIT cell pathways affected by smoke

[{"selector":"#anim-9e4a93a8-1332-4424-b64a-c242f313aaff","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7c6edf88-0bd9-431d-b119-a57716e8fe06","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 248.25715%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a9c8688d-8875-499d-a927-89f346a39bbb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-515f0dd0-26a2-4635-80f1-6ec036a72456","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -113.72714%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4ff83f51-5251-432c-9945-fc20efe42374","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Omar Ayub (Pexels)

Dr. Wael Awad confirms smoke chemicals make immune cells less efficient at detecting threats.

[{"selector":"#anim-c0dc2ca8-6cb7-4022-b142-6f60903fb8b3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cc4aa7bb-cbfd-4721-9a6e-925104f15efd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eed60ea0-2556-4111-99f6-4c1f962fc006","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e6d9f152-7e43-46de-970c-50ab1e739f0a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3dbdb89f-a828-48d2-a35c-9ea3ed0b2f71","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Cottonbro Studio (Pexels)

Professor Jamie Rossjohn proves long-term smoke exposure weakens flu defense and raises COPD risks.

[{"selector":"#anim-3bd788db-7eda-47c3-b05b-dd3c10f576ab","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-957bd9cc-85e7-4f3b-b437-782dafd6c64b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 248.25715%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6e039a90-421b-41cc-8df2-499086f9d38d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4111e162-3bc2-4fdc-bea9-48f910521cd5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -113.72714%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ab59dc03-99e2-4dd2-bc99-a609d211494c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Samar Mourya (Pexels)

[{"selector":"#anim-c44c6cf7-f722-4a8e-bcc2-334e90df73d1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bb68d1cd-6151-458f-ac93-3530bc90c767","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6627d3e9-d2e1-4e0c-9c68-79934d75f551","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.50152%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3d1da15b-d3d1-4d81-88e2-19bc50b081cb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e546e52b-b59f-42f9-91a3-dc1df482be16","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.23810%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] FDA's Nicotine Limits May Cut Smoking to 1.4% but Spark $80B Black Market Learn more