The Effects of Smoking

“The Effects of Smoking”

• Smoking causes tar to deposit in the lungs, which can have a number of detrimental effects on the respiratory system. This includes thickening the walls of the bronchioles and bronchi and making them less flexible.

• The cilia that line the bronchioles are damaged by smoke. These little hair-like structures serve an important purpose, moving mucus out of the lungs and into the throat, so that it can be expelled. When these are damaged, mucus builds up in the lungs and can cause chronic bronchitis.

• Carbon Monoxide present in smoke binds with haemoglobin in red blood cells more readily than oxygen, reducing the blood’s oxygen-carrying capability. This forces the heart to pump harder to provide enough oxygen to the body, potentially leading to heart diseases.

• Chemicals in cigarette smoke can cause alveoli, the tiny air sacks in our lungs where gas exchange occurs, to lose their elasticity. This can lead to a condition known as emphysema, characterised by breathlessness and persistent cough, and it reduces overall lung function.

• Carcinogens in cigarette smoke are directly linked to lung cancer. They cause changes in the DNA of lung cells, leading to uncontrolled cell growth, which forms tumours.

• Regular smoking leads to reduced lung function. This can result in the smoker experiencing shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, and an increased risk of lung infections as the immune response in the lungs is weakened.

• Smoking doesn’t just affect the respiratory system. It puts people at risk of a number of other health conditions, like stroke, heart disease, and various types of cancer.

• Passive smoking, or second-hand smoke, is also harmful. It exposes non-smokers to many of the same harmful substances as smokers. This can also result in respiratory problems and an increase in the risk of heart disease and lung cancer.