How does smoking influence wound healing?

Smoking delays wound healing primarily by impairing blood flow. Nicotine, a key ingredient in tobacco, causes vasoconstriction, which restricts the flow of oxygen and essential nutrients required for effective wound healing. Adequate blood supply is crucial in delivering white blood cells and other components needed for inflammation, infection control, and tissue repair. Additionally, smoking affects the function of various cells in the immune response and can lead to increased tissue hypoxia due to reduced oxygen levels in the blood. This combination of factors ultimately hinders the wound healing process, resulting in delayed recovery.

In contrast, improved blood flow, increased oxygen availability, and enhanced granulation tissue formation are not associated with smoking and do not occur as a result of tobacco use. Rather, these aspects are vital for promoting effective healing, which is why the influence of smoking is detrimental in this context.