Tobacco smoke irritates the breathing
passages.
This causes certain cells lining it to produce
more mucus and fluid.
The nicotine in the smoke also paralyses
the cilia lining the tract which help to
remove dirt and bacteria.
Both these effects reduce the space for air
to pass freely through the system.
The mucus, dirt and bacteria accumulate in
the passages (see Fig 21).
Nicotine also causes constriction or
narrowing of the bronchioles.
This cuts down on the amount of air able to
enter from the outside.
The damage gets progressively worse as
long as smoke continues to be inhaled.
Tobacco smoke also contains carcinogens,
chemicals which cause cancer.
Researchers feel that at least 43 of these
chemicals exist.
One public health concern is that the
danger exists for both smokers and non-
smokers.
The possible damage is just as real for non-
smokers who are in a smokers'
environment.
They breathe in smoke from burning
cigarettes, and from smoke exhaled by
smokers.
This is termed passive smoking.
Many common diseases of the breathing
system are associated with smoking.
These include asthma, chronic bronchitis,
emphysema and lung cancer.
In asthma, a person has great difficulty
breathing, and there is a wheezing sound as
air is breathed in and breathed out.
This is a result of spasms in the muscle in
the walls of the bronchioles.
An attack is brought on by an over-
reaction to particular environmental
stimuli.
Often these are allergic reactions to pollen
or dust in the air, but smoke may also act
as a trigger.
The accumulation of mucus containing dirt
particles and bacteria in the airways causes
chronic bronchitis.
Coughing sets in as the body tries to
remove the mucus.
As long as the irritation persists, coughing
continues.
The bronchial walls become infected
eventually.
Cilia become less and less effective,
although more mucus is being produced.
Scar tissue replaces cilia in the long run.
This blocks part of the passageways.
Mucus may be coughed up as a thick
yellow-green sputum, and heavy coughing
may damage the walls of the alveoli.
Also, if the irritation continues, air becomes
trapped in the alveoli, further breaking
down the walls.
The gaseous exchange surfaces are,
therefore, destroyed.
The condition is now called emphysema.
The lungs become less elastic as more scar
tissue is made.
They cannot expel air as easily, so more
carbon dioxide than should remains in the
blood.
As a result, people with this disease may
have a bloated and slightly bluish
appearance.
The condition cannot be reversed.
Lung cancer usually starts in the lining or
epithelium of the bronchioles, and then
spreads throughout the lungs.
Lung cancer is not easy to detect in the
early stages.
But more than 90% of patients are known
to have had a history of tobacco use.
The best form of treatment is, therefore,
preventive.
Don't smoke!
