smoking and inflammation?

[Cooter]

Hi!
i seem to recall learning this once, not in the context of bodywork, and then forgetting it. Does smoking contribute to inflammation, and if so, how? It seems a way too general thing to say (WHICH tissues? WHEN?) but I seem to remember something about this. I'm guessing it's not smoking per se but something like lack of oxygen secondary to smoking. (Feel free to tell me if my science is really off on this .)

I bring it up because for the two of my clients who (or whom, or whomsoeverinka) I know smoke, their back tissues--from neck and shoulder to lumbar--seem inflamed--very sensitive on the surface. Long-time postural issues and 'holding' are also clearly at work and the problem does NOT extend to the glutes or legs, so I don't mean to complicate things by throwing in smoking....but wondering.

Thank you !

 

[Alice In Wonderbra]

Smoking is one of the most preventable causes of dis-ease in the world.
It increases homocystine, inflammation, hasting aging, and down right dirty, just to name a few. t018


There are approximately 4000 chemicals in cigarette smoke, many of them toxic. The ingredients in cigarettes affect everything from the internal functioning of organs to the efficiency of the body's immune system. The effects of cigarette smoking are destructive and widespread.

•Toxic ingredients in cigarette smoke travel throughout the body, causing damage in several different ways.
•Nicotine reaches the brain within 10 seconds after smoke is inhaled. It has been found in every part of the body and in breast milk.
•Carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin in red blood cells, preventing affected cells from carrying a full load of oxygen.
•Cancer-causing agents (carcinogens) in tobacco smoke damage important genes that control the growth of cells, causing them to grow abnormally or to reproduce too rapidly.
•The carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene binds to cells in the airways and major organs of smokers.
•Smoking affects the function of the immune system and may increase the risk for respiratory and other infections.
•There are several likely ways that cigarette smoke does its damage. One is oxidative stress that mutates DNA, promotes atherosclerosis, and leads to chronic lung injury. Oxidative stress is thought to be the general mechanism behind the aging process, contributing to the development of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and COPD.
•The body produces antioxidants to help repair damaged cells. Smokers have lower levels of antioxidants in their blood than do nonsmokers.
•Smoking is associated with higher levels of chronic inflammation, another damaging process that may result in oxidative stress.

~M