The Effects of Smoking

Cigarette smoke carries a combination of harmful chemicals which can cause damage to lung tissue, leading to diseases such as lung cancer and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
One of the most harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke is tar. Tar builds up in the lungs, reducing the efficiency of gaseous exchange by clogging up the alveoli which are responsible for oxygen intake and the expulsion of carbon dioxide.
Nicotine in tobacco smoke increases heart rate and narrows the blood vessels, resulting in high blood pressure and potentially leading to heart diseases.
Smoking also increases the risk of stroke due to the effect of nicotine on blood vessels and the increased risk of blood clot formation.
Carbon monoxide, also present in cigarette smoke, binds to haemoglobin in red blood cells more readily than oxygen does. This reduces the oxygen carrying capacity of blood, leading to shortness of breath and long-term damage to the cardiovascular system.
Smoking paralyses the cilia (tiny hair-like structures) which line the bronchi and trachea. These cilia normally move mucus, dust and bacteria out of the lungs, but when paralysed by smoking, they cannot perform this function effectively leading to chronic bronchitis.
Long term smoking harms the natural defense and cleaning system of the lungs, exposing them to harmful pathogens and causing diseases such as pneumonia.
Smoking leads to lung emphysema, a lung condition that causes shortness of breath. It occurs when the air sacs in the lungs are gradually damaged.
The damage caused by smoking on both lung and respiratory health can potentially be irreversible even after quitting smoking, underscoring the importance of prevention.
Passive smoking, inhaling secondhand smoke, is also harmful and can cause similar health problems.