Smoking

Articles tagged with "Smoking".

The Impact of Nicotine on Wound Healing: Cigarettes vs Vaping vs Patches

Tags: Nicotine, Wound Healing, Smoking, Surgery, Recovery

August 31, 2025

Does nicotine affect wound healing after surgery?

Yes. Nicotine significantly impairs wound healing regardless of delivery method, with cigarettes causing the most severe damage. All forms of nicotine - cigarettes, vaping, and patches - delay healing by reducing blood flow, disrupting cellular repair processes, and weakening immune response.

This 2025 systematic review by Bonilla et al. examined how different nicotine delivery systems affect the body’s ability to heal wounds. The research reveals that while cigarettes cause the most damage due to additional toxins like carbon monoxide and tar, nicotine itself is the primary culprit behind delayed healing across all delivery methods.

Smoking and Heart Disease: The Life-Saving Benefits of Quitting

Tags: Smoking, Cardiovascular Health, Heart Disease Prevention

March 19, 2025

Dr. Kumar’s Take:

Smoking is one of the leading causes of preventable deaths worldwide, particularly due to its devastating impact on the heart and blood vessels. This study confirms what many doctors have known for decades: quitting smoking can dramatically reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and even reverse some of the damage caused by smoking.

Actionable Tip: If you’re a smoker, the best thing you can do for your heart is to quit as soon as possible. The benefits start within weeks and continue to grow over the years. Even heavy smokers can significantly reduce their risk of heart attacks, strokes, and early death by quitting.