Smoking can have harmful impacts on lung function.
- Cigarette smoke contains carcinogenic chemicals, nicotine and carbon monoxide.
Bronchitis
- When smoke is breathed in, it can damage the cilia cells of the airways.
- This means the cilia can't waft away the mucus produced by goblet cells, and mucus builds up.
- This can lead to bronchitis (where airways are partly blocked with mucus).
Cancer
- The carcinogens can cause tumours to form in the airways.
- Smoking can cause mouth, throat and lung cancers.
Emphysema
- Smoke damages the walls of the alveoli.
- This reduces their surface area.
- This can cause emphysema, where gas exchange can't happen efficiency.
- This causes shortness of breath.
Heart disease and strokes
- Nicotine is very addictive - it puts strain on the heart.
- Carbon monoxide reduces red blood cells' ability to carry oxygen.
- This also puts strain on the heart.
- Both of these substances can cause heart disease and strokes.