Smoking is directly or indirectly linked to countless ailments. Diseases never thought to be associated with smoking may need to be re-examined to determine what role, if any, tobacco may play in their development. Pleurisy reminds us that even the smallest of spaces can become irritated, resulting in a painful token of the involuntary act of breathing.
Identification
Pleurisy is an inflammation between the two layers of membrane surrounding the lungs. Healthy pleura slide against each other smoothly, allowing the lungs to expand and contract effortlessly. When these layers are inflamed, breathing can become painful. Causes of pleurisy can include influenza, pneumonia, pulmonary embolisms and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Smoking is not considered a direct cause of pleurisy.
Significance of Influenza and Smoking
Influenza is a viral infection that mimics the common cold but can become very serious. Risk factors for developing influenza or its complications include asthma and heart conditions, both of which can be caused from smoking. "The New England Journal of Medicine" reports that in a study of an H1N1 flu outbreak, smoking was a significant factor in developing influenza and contributed markedly to incapacitation during the epidemic.
Significance of Pneumonia and Smoking
Pneumonia is an infection in the lungs caused by bacteria, parasites, fungi or viruses. It can become life threatening, especially if you have an impaired immune system or a chronic disease. Smoking is a recognized risk factor for pneumonia as it weakens the lungs, introduces bacteria and causes chronic lung diseases.
Significance of Pulmonary Embolism and Smoking
A pulmonary embolism is the result of a blockage in one or more vessels traveling to your lungs. This blockage is usually caused by a blood clot and can be life threatening. According to "The Journal of the American Medical Association" and the Mayo Clinic, smoking is one of several contributing factors causing a pulmonary embolism.
Significance of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Smoking
In a study published in the "Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases," heavy smoking was determined to be related to rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease caused, in part, by the presence of rheumatoid factor antibodies which attack a person's own tissues. In the study it was found that heavy smoking of 30 or more cigarettes a day increased the number of rheumatoid factors, thereby increasing the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.
Theories/Speculation
Although there is no direct link between smoking and pleurisy, some conditions leading to the development of pleurisy each have a direct cause or risk factor associated with smoking. Smoking is an insidious habit whose tentacles reach into every cell of the human body. Diseases not commonly linked to smoking can now trace their lineage back through tobacco. The only way to reduce the risk of disease is to eliminate tobacco from your life.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Pleurisy
- "Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases"; Heavy Cigarette Smoking and Rheumatoid Arthritis; Masi, A.T. et al.; Vol. 60; 2001
- "Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases"; Heavy Cigarette Smoking Is Strongly Associated With Rheumatoid Arthritis; Hutchinson, D. et al.; Vol. 60; 2001
- Lab Tests Online: Rheumatoid Factor
- "The Journal of the American Medical Association"; A Prospective Study of Risk Factors for Pulmonary Embolism in Women; Goldhaber, S. et al.; February 1997
