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Systemic Inflammation Smoking

Meaning

Systemic inflammation induced by smoking refers to the chronic, low-grade elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and acute-phase reactants throughout the body, directly caused by the continuous exposure to tobacco toxins. This persistent inflammatory state is a major driver of age-related disease and significantly compromises hormonal health by interfering with receptor function and increasing cortisol secretion. Clinical markers, such as elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), serve as objective measures of this pathological burden. It is a foundational mechanism linking smoking to nearly all non-communicable diseases.