Smoking Worsens Severe Flu Infections

Smoking has long been known as unhealthy. It is known to lead to chronic pulmonary disease and has also been associated with increased risk for influenza-related illness, among a host of other conditions.

More recently, scientists demonstrated a link between cigarette smoke and a disordering of the oropharyngeal microbiota composition. However, this association has not been clear. The soft palate, side and back walls of the throat, tonsils, and the back of the tongue make up the oropharynx.