Smoking: The Affects on the Lungs
Each year more than 443,000 deaths occur due to smoking while 50,000 deaths are contributed to second hand smoke. The sad thing is, each of these deaths were preventable.
Cigarettes expose you to over 49 different carcinogens including formaldehide and ammonia. It also depletes an enzyme in your lungs called Elastin which allows your lungs to be more flexible. Without elastin, you are much more susceptible to emphysema.
When a cigarette is inhaled, tar coats the lungs damaging them and the heart. 160,000 deaths in the United States are smoking/heart related deaths each year. In addition, smoking creates a rise in blood pressure and increase clotting time which then leads to stroke.
Effects on the lungs:
Tiny air sacs line the lungs and are called alveoli. These air sacs are responsible for the exchange of oxygen and gases through epithelial cells. The alveoli are covered with pulmonary surfactant which prevents the alveoli from collapsing during exhalation. Smoking cigarettes prevents the alveoli from receiving oxygen. For this reason, lung cancer is 90% responsible for death among men and 80% responsible for death among women.
Lung Cancer:
Lung cancer is not always caused by smoking. There are numerous cases where people have died from lung cancer and never smoked a single cigarette. Of the 20,000 new cases that appear, 10 to 15% of them will be non smokers. The additional causes of lung cancer include:
Second-hand smoke Arsenic Asbestos Chromium Radon gas - the number one cause of lung cancer in those who don't smoke. Excessive exposure to radiation
How lung cancer develops:
Exposure to carcinogens in the air are the root cause of lung cancer. These are usually found in the air in our homes, work or environment. These carcinogens lead to lesions on the lungs which then become tumors. These growths can be benign which means non cancerous or malignant meaning cancerous. As they grow, the tumors begin to put pressure on other nearby organs resulting in severe pain. Unfortunately, most lung cancers are not detected until they are in their later stages.
How is lung cancer treated?
Treatment is totally dependent upon the type and extent of the malignancy, as well as the patient's health. Choice of treatments includes surgical intervention, radiation, chemotherapy, or a combination of these choices. Clinical trials of new and innovative procedures are another avenue that can be taken. Your doctor will have information on clinical trials that may be available to take part in.
Cigarettes expose you to over 49 different carcinogens including formaldehide and ammonia. It also depletes an enzyme in your lungs called Elastin which allows your lungs to be more flexible. Without elastin, you are much more susceptible to emphysema.
When a cigarette is inhaled, tar coats the lungs damaging them and the heart. 160,000 deaths in the United States are smoking/heart related deaths each year. In addition, smoking creates a rise in blood pressure and increase clotting time which then leads to stroke.
Effects on the lungs:
Tiny air sacs line the lungs and are called alveoli. These air sacs are responsible for the exchange of oxygen and gases through epithelial cells. The alveoli are covered with pulmonary surfactant which prevents the alveoli from collapsing during exhalation. Smoking cigarettes prevents the alveoli from receiving oxygen. For this reason, lung cancer is 90% responsible for death among men and 80% responsible for death among women.
Lung Cancer:
Lung cancer is not always caused by smoking. There are numerous cases where people have died from lung cancer and never smoked a single cigarette. Of the 20,000 new cases that appear, 10 to 15% of them will be non smokers. The additional causes of lung cancer include:
Second-hand smoke Arsenic Asbestos Chromium Radon gas - the number one cause of lung cancer in those who don't smoke. Excessive exposure to radiation
How lung cancer develops:
Exposure to carcinogens in the air are the root cause of lung cancer. These are usually found in the air in our homes, work or environment. These carcinogens lead to lesions on the lungs which then become tumors. These growths can be benign which means non cancerous or malignant meaning cancerous. As they grow, the tumors begin to put pressure on other nearby organs resulting in severe pain. Unfortunately, most lung cancers are not detected until they are in their later stages.
How is lung cancer treated?
Treatment is totally dependent upon the type and extent of the malignancy, as well as the patient's health. Choice of treatments includes surgical intervention, radiation, chemotherapy, or a combination of these choices. Clinical trials of new and innovative procedures are another avenue that can be taken. Your doctor will have information on clinical trials that may be available to take part in.
About the Author:
Barb Hicks is a registered nurse and highly regarded writer who loves to share her knowledge. She is a featured writer on Clivir.com where she provides more articles about Smoking and Heart Disease and How to Stop Smoking Cigarettes .
By Dimas Prast
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