How Does Smoking Cigarettes Affect The Lungs?

With all the dangers of cigarette smoking, many have asked "How does smoking affect the lungs?" There's no doubt that long term first and second hand smoke is extremely hazardous, and when it comes to the lungs, cancer is not the only health risk you have when you smoke cigarettes for years. Among the other risks are: Pneumonia, bronchitis, and emphysema.

Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition which occurs in the lungs. This condition can develop by bacterial, viral, and fungal infections reaching the alveoli in the lungs. When this happens, fluid fills alveoli and creates inflammation in the lungs. Some of the symptoms of pneumonia are: cough with mucus, fever, shaking, shallow breathing and shortness of breath, chest pains, increased heart rate, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. To top it off, Pneumonia can be fatal, and about 5% of severe conditions left untreated result in death.

The most common respiratory infection that occurs due to smoking is bronchitis. The chemicals in cigarettes irritate the lining of your bronchial tubes which can greatly increase your risk for infection. The Bronchi become swollen, making it much more difficult to breathe since air is not able to pass through the airways normally. There is also a very thin layer of mucus that lines the bronchial tubes, and when these become inflamed, they will leak fluids that will build up in the lungs as mucus and ultimately lead to this infection. In response to the mucus buildup, your body's natural reflex will be to cough continually until the mucus has been removed. Constant coughing will stress your lungs beyond their limit and cause severe chest pain. While this is not a fatal condition, it can be extremely painful nonetheless, and may eventually lead to chronic bronchitis.

Emphysema occurs when the alveolar walls in the lungs become damaged. The lung is composed of many alveoli (tiny sacs), which take in oxygen, process it, and distribute it to your bloodstream. When you smoke, the chemicals enter these sacs and over time will begin to cause them to petrify. The reason being is that, in your lungs, there are defensive cells called macrophages. These cells destroy particles that enter your lungs, but when they do, they release materials which can destroy proteins in your lungs such as collagen and elastin. These proteins are what help your lungs expand and contract, and the absence of them leads to petrification of the lungs.

These are just a few examples of how smoking affects the lungs. There are many more conditions you could possibly develop if you continue to smoke. Some are more severe, while others less. Either way, your best bet is to quit smoking now before these conditions can develop in your body.