How the Lungs Work
The lungs are two large organs located in the chest cavity. They are part of the respiratory system and control the flow of air into and out of the body. Healthy lungs are pinkish in appearance and have a spongy texture.
When we breathe, the air travels down the wind pipe where cilia--tiny hair-like structures--trap dust and debris before it can enter the lungs. The wind pipe then branches off into smaller structures called bronchi. The air travels down the bronchi and into progressively smaller structures called bronchioles. At the end of the bronchioles are tiny air sacks, called alveoli. The alveoli are shaped like grape clusters and each sack has a tiny drop of water. When the air enters the alveoli, it mixes with the water and breaks down into its component parts. The alveoli have a rich supply of capillaries that transfer oxygen from the lungs into the bloodstream, and carbon dioxide from the blood back into the lungs.
Tobacco Smoke
According to the American Lung Association, tobacco smoke contains over 4,800 different chemicals, 69 of which are known carcinogens. Cigarette smoke contains benzene, which is used as a solvent in fuel and is a known carcinogen. It also contains formaldehyde, which is highly poisonous and known to cause cancer as well as respiratory, skin and GI problems. Ammonia is used as a flavoring and as a catalyst to release nicotine from the tobacco. Nicotine is an insecticide and is also highly addictive. Arsenic and hydrogen cyanide are both powerful poisons. Cigarette smoke also contains carbon monoxide, which is poisonous and fatal in large amounts. Cigarette smoke also contains tiny particles; when we inhale cigarette smoke, it compresses these particles and deposits them into the lungs as tar.
Smoking and the Lungs
Cigarette smoke damages the cilia in the trachea so they can no longer filter dirt out of the air we breathe. This allows dust to be deposited into the lungs, causing irritation and increasing your risk for infection. Cigarette smoke also damages the alveoli, hindering gas transfer in and out of the lungs. The chemicals in cigarette smoke damage the actual lung cells and prevent new cells from growing properly. The immune system normally gets rid of unhealthy cells, but if the damage is ongoing, as with smoking, the immune system can't keep up---and the unhealthy cells can grow into cancer.
According to the American Lung Association, smoking is responsible for approximately 90 percent of all lung cancer deaths and chronic lung disease accounts for 73 percent of smoking-related conditions.
