When you breathe, your lungs take in oxygen from the air and deliver it to the bloodstream. The cells in your body need oxygen to work and grow. During a normal day, you breathe nearly 25,000 times. People with lung disease have difficulty breathing.
There are numerous things that affect the lungs in a negative way. Smoking is a major contributor to these issues and it helps in no way. It destroys the lungs and intensifies any existing problem.
Diseases of the Lungs
Lung disease refers to disorders that affect the lungs, the organs that allow us to breathe. Breathing problems caused by lung disease may prevent the body from getting enough oxygen. Examples of lung diseases are: * Asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema * Infections, such as influenza and pneumonia * Lung cancer * Sarcoidosis and pulmonary fibrosis * Pulmonary hypertension * Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
The Effect of Cigarette Smoke on the lungs
Cigarette smoke has a negative effect on the body entirely. It affects the various systems and the organs associated with them. However, the focus lies on the respiratory system; the lungs. The effects of tobacco smoke on the respiratory system include: * Irritation of the trachea (windpipe) and larynx (voice box) * Reduced lung function and breathlessness due to swelling and narrowing of the lung airways and excess mucus in the lung passages * Impairment of the lungs’ clearance system, leading to the build-up of poisonous substances, which results in lung irritation and damage * Increased risk of lung infection and symptoms such as coughing and wheezing * Permanent damage to the air sacs of the lungs.
The air sacs in your lungs where oxygen is passed to the blood are called alveoli. These have a very large surface area - about the size of a tennis court. Every time that you smoke you kill some of these alveoli. These structures can't grow back, so once