Story at-a-glance
- Smoking before surgery significantly increases complications; current smokers have a 14% higher risk of post-surgical problems like infections and delayed healing
- Quitting smoking less than six weeks before surgery provides little benefit — patients need at least six weeks for their body to begin recovering from tobacco's damaging effects
- Young, otherwise healthy smokers are particularly at risk, with the highest smoking rates (26.8%) seen in patients aged 18 to 40 who often underestimate their vulnerability
- Smoking weakens immune defenses and promotes chronic inflammation by disrupting how immune cells function, creating an environment where infections thrive and healing slows
- Elective surgeries provide an ideal opportunity for smoking cessation, as the scheduled waiting period allows time for immune function and tissue oxygenation to improve
