Why Vaping and Smoking Make You More Vulnerable During Cold and Flu Season
The holidays are a time for travel, gatherings, and cozy nights in, but it’s also a time for cold and flu season. Between crowded airports, late nights, and winter stress, your immune system works overtime. If you smoke or vape, you’re giving viruses an even easier way in. Quitting now can help you stay healthy throughout the holidays and beyond. Here’s how smoking and vaping make your body more vulnerable this season:
Weakened Lung Defenses
Your lungs are equipped with tiny, hair-like structures called cilia that help clear out bacteria, viruses, and other debris. Smoking and vaping may damage these cilia, making it harder for your lungs to expel harmful particles. As a result, your risk of respiratory infections like bronchitis and pneumonia increases significantly.
Suppressed Immune Response
Nicotine, a key ingredient in cigarettes and most vape products, can suppress your immune system. High levels of nicotine from vaping and smoking reduce the effectiveness of white blood cells and inhibit antibody production. This leaves your body less equipped to identify and fight off infections, making it easier for viruses like the flu to take control.
Holiday Travel & Airplane Air Quality
Air travel during the holidays exposes you to dry, recycled cabin air that can irritate your lungs and spread germs. If you vape or smoke, your airways are already inflamed, making it harder to clear out viruses. Combine that with jet lag, stress, and lack of sleep, and your immune defenses drop even lower—leaving you more likely to catch something mid-flight or when you land.
Indoor Heating, Dry Air & Lung Health
Winter air is cold and dry, and indoor heating only worsens it. Dry environments make it harder for your airways to stay moisturized and filter out pathogens. Smoking or vaping dries them out even more, damaging the protective lining of your lungs. That’s why winter coughs and sore throats linger longer for people who smoke or vape.
Holiday Stress & Nicotine Cravings
The holidays can bring emotional triggers—stressful travel, family dynamics, or the pressure to celebrate. Stress increases cortisol levels, which suppress your immune system and can amplify nicotine cravings. Choosing a nicotine replacement therapy (like Jones mints) can help you manage those moments while keeping your immune defenses intact.
Triggered Chronic Inflammation
Both cigarette smoke and vape aerosols contain harmful chemicals that can cause persistent inflammation in your body. This chronic inflammation leads to oxidative stress, which weakens your immune system over time. When your body is already dealing with inflammation, it has fewer resources to fight off infections effectively.
Slowed Recovery and Healing
Smoking and vaping don’t just make you more susceptible to illness—they can also slow your recovery. These habits impair your body’s ability to heal quickly, making it harder to bounce back from colds, the flu, surgeries, or even minor injuries.
How to Quit Vaping and Smoking
The bottom line? Quitting smoking or vaping can significantly improve your immune health and reduce your risk of respiratory infections. If you’re looking for resources to quit, consider Jones. Our FDA-approved nicotine mints to help curb cravings and reduce your dependency. Pair the mints with our free app that provides clinically proven behavioral strategies and daily motivation. This combination of NRT and community-driven behavioral tools is the most effective way to quit. Jones is designed to help you gradually manage cravings and reduce your nicotine dependency over time.
Make this your healthiest winter yet, start your quit journey with Jones and enjoy the holidays without constant coughs or cravings.
FAQs
Why do I crave nicotine more in the winter?
Cold weather and reduced sunlight can lower dopamine levels, making cravings feel stronger. Jones Nicotine Mints can help keep your nicotine levels steady while you build new habits.
Does vaping make winter coughs worse?
Yes. Vaping and smoking irritate airways that are already stressed by dry indoor heat and cold air. Taking a break from nicotine—or quitting completely—can help you breathe easier.
How can I stay nicotine-free during the holidays?
Plan ahead for travel and social triggers. Keep Jones Nicotine Mints handy for cravings and focus on routines that keep your stress low, like hydration, rest, and short walks outdoors.