Are healthy smokers really healthy?. Issue 1 (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhou, Zijing; Chen, Ping; Peng, Hong
• Is Part Of: Tobacco induced diseases. Volume 14:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 12
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Healthy smokers -- Respiratory system -- Inflammation -- Immune changes -- Genetic alterations; Tobacco -- Health aspects -- Periodicals; Tobacco -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Tobacco use -- Health aspects -- Periodicals; Tobacco use -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Nicotine addiction; Smoking; Internal medicine -- Periodicals; 616.865
• DOI: 10.1186/s12971-016-0101-z
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1617-9625

Abstract

Abstract Cigarette smoke contains more than 4500 chemicals which have toxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic effects. Strong evidences have shown that current smokers take a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer than nonsmokers. However, less attention has been paid to the smoking induced abnormalities in the individuals defined as healthy smokers who are normal with spirometry, radiographic images, routine physical exam and categorized as healthy control group in many researches. Actually, 'healthy smokers' are not healthy. This narrative review focuses on the smoking related pathophysiologic changes mainly in the respiratory system of healthy smokers, including inflammation and immune changes, genetic alterations, structural changes and pulmonary dysfunction.