From the very first time smokers light up, they begin to cause damage to their lungs. The longer they smoke, the more damage occurs. This damage eventually becomes irreparable, and can lead to emphysema, which is a chronic lung disease.
As the cigarette smoke is inhaled deep into the lungs, it leaves behind deposits of chemicals from the tobacco. These chemicals remain in the lung cavity and start the damaging process almost immediately.
These chemicals destroy the tiny hairlike cilia that help keep air passages clear of any mucus build up. This leads to excess mucus, causing congestion. The build up of mucus also narrows the air passageways, creating a smaller air flow.
The chemicals in the smoke attack the air sacs in the lungs as well and they lose their elasticity and shape. To visualize this, consider the difference in a fully inflated balloon versus one that has lost its air and become soft and out of shape.
When the air sacs are damaged, they have a harder time separating the oxygen from the carbon dioxide in the smoker's system. This will leave the entire body deprived of the amount of oxygen it needs to be healthy. Lack of proper oxygen leads to other organ damage.
As the condition worsens, the lungs lose their elasticity as well. This can make it very hard for the smoker to take a deep breath or to exhale the bad air properly. The lungs simply refuse to inflate or deflate properly. This causes shortness of breath because the smoker can only take very shallow breaths.
Emphysema is a chronic lung disease that has no cure. Medication and changes in lifestyle are the only resources the smoker has to get any relief. As the disease progresses, the lungs become more damaged and breathing decreases even more. Simply walking can exhaust a person suffering from emphysema.
In advanced cases of emphysema, the smoker must use a portable oxygen tank. Struggling to breathe affects other organs in the body and the person may suffer chronic respiratory infections. Pneumonia is a constant worry because the diseased and worn out lungs are unable to fight off any bacteria or viruses.
Other factors can cause emphysema, such as air pollution and breathing hazardous chemicals on a regular bases. Even taking all of these other causes into consideration, cigarette smoking still remains the most common cause of this disease and it is the one that is most preventable. If you don't smoke, don't start. If you do smoke, stopping today could prevent this deadly disease from attacking you.
Tags: chronic lung, chronic lung disease, disease that, lose their, lose their elasticity, lung disease, their elasticity