Oxygen Intake
One of the biggest things that affects the lungs with smoking is the intake of oxygen. Under normal breathing circumstances, you inhale just air. It is not always fresh, but it is still just air. When you do this, your lungs fill up and and expand normally. But when smoking, you are not breathing in all air. You are breathing in some air and some smoke at the same time. This has a negative affect on tiny hairs called cilia inside the lungs. These are used to filter out particles of dust and foreign matter.
Tar
Cigarettes have carcinogens in them that cause a filmy buildup on the inside of the lungs called tar. This tar buildup can eventually break down the cells of the lungs and lead to cancer. When tar is built up in the lungs, this can also lead to what is called "smoker's hack." This is characterized by violent coughing episodes often accompanied with spitting up phlegm.
Emphysema
Emphysema is a condition that often happens as a result of smoking. During breathing, you inhale oxygen and then exhale carbon dioxide. This process is done through the bronchi and alveoli of the lungs. The alveoli are air sacs in the lungs where oxygen gets released into the bloodstream. Smoking causes these air sacs to get destroyed and lose their elasticity. When this happens, emphysema is the result. People who suffer from emphysema will experience shortness of breath and will have a hard time with the slightest bit of exertion. Even getting up out of a chair and walking to the kitchen can make them breathe hard.
Nicotine
Nicotine is the addictive substance that is found in cigarettes and other tobacco products such as cigars and pipe tobacco. Not only can it be addicting, but it also can hamper the functioning of the lungs as well. What it ends up doing is constricting blood vessels in a process called vasoconstriction. This not only affects the lungs, but it also takes a toll on the heart. It makes the heart have to work harder to pump blood to the rest of the body. This also impacts the lungs, as they are responsible for supplying oxygenated blood to the body.
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