According to a study conducted by Yale School of Medicine smoking of cigarette worsens flue in a person. The study conducted on mice showed that the immune systems of mice exposed to as little as two-cigarette smoke a day for two weeks over reacted when they were also exposed to a mimic of the flu virus.

 

The study further showed that the mice's immune systems cleared the virus normally but the exaggerated inflammation caused increased levels of tissue damage. With the study identification mechanism by which viruses and cigarette smoke interact to increase lung inflammation and damage has been done.

 

The outcome of the study has been contradictory to the general and prevailing perception that cigarette smoke decreases anti-viral responses. However, Jack A. Elias and Min-Jong Kang, the founders of the study have found that cold and flu virus symptoms often mild in non-smokers can seriously hit smokers.

 

Till now doctors were not able to tell why smokers had more exaggerated responses to viral infections, higher rate of death in previous influenza epidemics and why are they more prone to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Now with this study things are quite clear, establishes the study.