A Review: Cigarettes Trigger Chronic Inflammation in the Body

Background

Cigarettes are a controversial product with the highest smoking rate in Indonesia, which contain harmful substances like nicotine and tar that can cause chronic inflammation, as shown by increased levels of IL-8, TNF-α, and ROS in saliva. Even though people are aware of the dangers, most still smoke without paying attention to the impact on health. Long-term smoking can weaken the immune system and increase Non-communicable illness risks including cancer.

Objective

To explain how smoking can trigger chronic inflammation in the body.

Discussion

Cigarettes are a combination of chemicals. When cigarettes are inhaled, incomplete combustion can be deposited in the body. Generally speaking, there are two major categories of cigarette components: Gas components (92%) and solid components or particles (8%). The gas elements of cigarette smoke consist of oxides, carbon monoxide, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, carbon dioxide, and hydrocarbons. Cigarette particles consist of nicotine, tar, benzopyrene, cadmium, benzanthracene, indole, henol, carbarzol and cresol. These chemicals are poisonous and unpleasant, and they can also raise the release of salivary ROS and pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-a and IL-8.

Conclusion

Cigarettes increase salivary ROS, TNF-α, and IL-8 production, which can cause chronic inflammation in the body.