Patient Education - Smoking and Wound Healing

Last updated on 10/29/24 | First published on 8/13/24 | Literature review current through Oct. 2024 [cite]

Authors: Erin Tharalson DNP, RN, ANP-BC, CWS, Topic editors: Elaine Horibe Song MD, PhD, MBA, Tiffany Hamm BSN, RN, CWS, ACHRN, UHMSADS, more...

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Summary

When you experience a wound, your body works hard to heal and close the wound. But if you smoke, it makes this healing process much harder. This article lists what you need to know about smoking and how it affects wound healing.

 Patient education handout (download)

WHAT does smoking do to your body?

Reduces Oxygen: Smoking lowers the amount of oxygen in your blood. Your body needs oxygen to heal wounds properly.
Narrows Blood Vessels: Smoking makes your blood vessels smaller, so less blood can reach your wound. This slows down healing.
Weakens Immune System: Smoking weakens your immune system, making it harder for your body to fight infections.

HOW does smoking affect wounds?

Smoking can make wound healing difficult:

Longer healing time: When you smoke, wounds take longer to heal due to blood vessel damage. This results in reduced oxygen and nutrients to the wound.
Increased infections: Wounds that take longer to heal due to smoking are more prone to infections. Smoking weakens the immune system, which is important for fighting infections.
Poor tissue health: Smoking can lead to reduced scar tissue strength and skin graft success. Smoking effects can cause blood clots to form near wounds.
Coverage risk: Some insurance companies may not cover treatment costs if you continue to smoke. Lack of access to needed treatments and wound care can impair healing.

WHY is smoking so harmful?

Smoking just one cigarette a day can negatively affect the body’s ability to heal. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States.

WHAT’S in a cigarette?

Ingredients: Cigarettes contain about 600 different ingredients.
Dangerous Chemicals [1] : When you burn a cigarette, it creates over 7,000 chemicals.
Cancer-Causing: At least 69 of these chemicals can cause cancer.
Poisonous: Many of these chemicals are poisonous, including carbon monoxide and nicotine.

The role of carbon monoxide

What it is: Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that’s produced when you burn a cigarette.
How it harms you: When you inhale carbon monoxide, it replaces oxygen in your blood. This means less oxygen reaches your organs and forces your heart to work harder to get enough oxygen, increasing your risk of heart disease and stroke.

The role of nicotine

What it is: Nicotine is a chemical in cigarettes that makes smoking addictive.
How it harms you: Nicotine quickly reaches your brain and gives a temporary feeling of pleasure. But it also increases your heart rate and blood pressure, which can damage your heart and blood vessels over time.

WHAT happens when you smoke?

Harmful Chemicals: Every puff of a cigarette sends these harmful chemicals, including carbon monoxide and nicotine, into your body.
Build-Up: These chemicals build up in your blood vessels, damaging your organs and making it harder for your body to function properly.

Health risks for smokers

Heart Disease: Smoking increases your chances of developing heart disease.
Strokes: Smokers are more likely to suffer from strokes.
Lung Cancer: Smoking is a major cause of lung cancer.
Lung Damage: It also damages your lungs by harming the airways and tiny air sacs inside them.
Cancer Risk: Smoking can cause cancer almost anywhere in your body.

WHY quit smoking?

Live Longer: Quitting smoking can help you avoid serious health risks.
Feel Better: You'll breathe easier, have more energy, and improve your overall health.
Protect Others: Quitting also protects those around you from secondhand smoke, which is also harmful.
It’s Never Too Late: Quitting smoking can make a big difference in how fast and well you heal. Even cutting back can help your body heal better.

Smoking Help

Your wound care team is here to support you every step of the way. We’ll provide resources to help you quit or reduce smoking. Tips to help you quit:

Set a Quit Date: Choose a day to stop smoking and stick to it.
Seek Support: Talk to friends, family, or a counselor for encouragement.
Use Resources: There are medications, patches, and apps that can help you quit.
Stay Positive: Quitting smoking is hard, but each day without smoking is a step toward better health.

Resources:

1-800-QUIT-NOW: 800-784-8669
quitSTART App
Smokefree Help: www.smokefree.gov
CDC Smoking Resources: https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/
American Lung Association Helpline: 800-LUNGUSA (800-586-4872)

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NOTE: This is a controlled document. This document is not a substitute for proper training, experience, and exercising of professional judgment. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the contents, neither the authors nor the Wound Reference, Inc. give any guarantee as to the accuracy of the information contained in them nor accept any liability, with respect to loss, damage, injury or expense arising from any such errors or omissions in the contents of the work.

REFERENCES

National Cancer Institute (NCI). Harms of Cigarette Smoking and Health Benefits of Quitting . 2017;.

Topic 2540 Version 1.0

Patient Education - Smoking and Wound Healing

Patient Education - Smoking and Wound Healing

Summary

WHAT does smoking do to your body?

WHAT happens when you smoke?

Health risks for smokers

WHY quit smoking?

Smoking Help

Resources:

REFERENCES

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