Remarkable for those who have started smoking at an early age, it is important to know that smoking is associated with MS at a young age. In this section of Dr. Salam’s website, read the causes. You can enjoy a healthy life. And escape from all kinds of addictive substances and alcohol and live a fun and healthy life
Smokers with MS suffer from problems such as breathing problems, erectile dysfunction and osteoporosis.
Smokers with MS have more brain disabilities than non-smokers with MS.
– Smokers and smokers with MS mainly suffer from autoimmune diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and autoimmune thyroid disease.
Although the exact cause of this disease is still unknown, but smoking increases the severity of this disease.
– Smoking stimulates and suppresses the immune system of people, especially people who are genetically predisposed to MS.
– Smoking makes people more prone to certain lung infections.
Smokers before age 33 are five times more likely to develop MS than nonsmokers
Smokers before the age of 17 are two and a half times more likely to develop MS than non-smokers.
Out of 1000 non-smokers, one gets MS.
Out of 662 smokers, one gets MS.
People who smoke two packs of cigarettes a day are five times more likely to develop MS than non-smokers.
People who smoke 1 to 2 packs a day are twice as likely to develop MS as non-smokers.
People who smoke more than 25 packs of cigarettes a year are 1.7 times more likely to develop MS than non-smokers.
Relationship between smoking and MS
There are several theories about how smoking can harm an MS patient, including:
1- Nitric oxide
In smokers, the amount of nitric oxide in the blood is high.
Nitric oxide is an important chemical in the body and helps dilate blood vessels, delivering oxygen to tissues and transmitting nerve messages, as well as being a free radical.
Free radicals must be removed from the body by antioxidants.
High levels of nitric oxide are a toxic substance to the nerves and, in people with MS, axons destroy the nerve.
An axon is a part of a nerve cell that transmits messages from one cell to another.
Increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) also indicates the progression of MS.
Axons that are deficient in myelin (the protective coating of axons) or are inflamed are caused by an increase in nitric oxide.
2- Acrolein
Harmful chemical in cigarettes is acrolein, which directly damages the nerves.
This substance causes lung damage and tears from the eyes.
Acrolein can also alter the function of the immune system and is known as an immunosuppressant.
It is not yet known what microbes cause MS, but many researchers think that one of the biggest causes in people with MS is viral infections.
3- Blood-brain barrier
Nicotine in cigarettes may increase the permeability of the blood-brain barrier.
The blood-brain barrier is a semipermeable layer of cells located inside the capillaries of the central nervous system.
Typically, this barrier prevents viruses and foreign agents and immune cells from entering.
This barrier allows oxygen and nutrients to enter the central nervous system.
In MS, immune cells enter the central nervous system, destroying or endangering this barrier.
These immune cells attack the myelin of the brain and spinal cord, causing damage that can lead to MS symptoms.
4- More vulnerability to infection
Smoking increases the risk of viral and bacterial infections of the lungs.
These infections destroy the protective mucous membranes and suppress the immune system.
It is not yet known what type of microbe causes MS, but many researchers think that one of the biggest causes in people with MS is viral infections.
5- Bad habits of life
Smokers often drink a lot of alcohol, have a poor diet, are sedentary, are low in vitamin D and are high in viruses.
