Smoking can have a detrimental effect on the body by damaging vital organs and causing long-term health related issues. Many of these health related issues can lead to life threatening illness if your smoking habit persists. Long term smoking can cause diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis and lung cancer.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one condition that you can develop from long-term smoking. COPD is a set of lung diseases that restrict the flow of air and make breathing increasingly more difficult. According to an article on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by the Mayo Clinic, chronic bronchitis and emphysema are the two major illnesses that make up COPD. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can also denote injury to the lungs caused by recurring asthmatic bronchitis. In each case, damage to the air passages eventually inhibits the exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the lungs. Symptoms of COPD include shortness of breath, wheezing and chest tightness.
Chronic Bronchitis
Chronic bronchitis is another disease that can be caused by long-term smoking. According to the National Institutes of Health, chronic bronchitis is a very serious ongoing condition. It occurs when the lining of the bronchial tubes are constantly inflamed and aggravated. A cough accompanied by mucus that occurs on most days for a minimum of three months a year is considered to be chronic bronchitis. Since damage to the lungs is irreversible with this condition, treatment focuses on minimizing its symptoms and preventing further damage. Chronic bronchitis may be treated with pulmonary rehabilitation and breathing exercises by working with a respiratory therapist.
Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is a life threatening disease that can develop after years of smoking. According to the National Institutes of Health, the earlier in life you started smoking and the more cigarettes you tend to smoke per day, the higher your risk of developing lung cancer. Some common symptoms of lung cancer include loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, coughing up blood and fatigue. An article on lung cancer by the Mayo Clinic says that people diagnosed with lung cancer have a very low chance of surviving. In many cases, lung cancer is fatal. The earlier you catch the disease, the greater your chances are of surviving. Avoiding cigarettes, quitting smoking and avoiding dangerous airborne carcinogens such as asbestos can help prevent the development of lung cancer.
