http://www.in.gov/itpc/files/smoking...uenza_itpc.pdf
Smoking identified as a risk factor for
epidemic A(h1n1) influenza over 25 years ago!
An outbreak of A(H1N1) influenza was studied in an
Israeli military unit of 336 healthy young men in 1982
to determine the relation of cigarette smoking to the
incidence of influenza. Half of the men were smokers.
68.5% of smokers had influenza, as compared with
47% of nonsmokers. Influenza was also more severe
in the smokers; 51% of the smokers lost work days or
required bed rest, or both, as compared with 30% of
the nonsmokers.
A quarter of all severe illness from influenza in the
overall study population was attributable to smoking.
Researchers concluded that smoking is a major
determinant of disease in epidemic influenza and may
contribute substantially to incapacitation in outbreaks
in populations that smoke heavily.
.....
There IS a connection…
• Research shows an increase in influenza (flu) infections
among smokers compared to nonsmokers.
• Influenza cases are often more severe in smokers, and
there is a higher mortality rate for smokers than
nonsmokers from influenza.
• Smoking is causally related to chronic coughing and
wheezing, bronchitis and emphysema in adults.
• Smokers contract upper and lower respiratory tract
infections more frequently than nonsmokers.
• Inhaling secondhand smoke also makes lungs more
susceptible to respiratory infections and illness.
• Children and infants exposed to secondhand smoke in the
home have dramatically higher levels of respiratory
symptoms, respiratory tract infections, and slower lung
development.