Smoking of tobacco, whether it is via cigarettes, pipes or some other method, can have a number of deleterious effects on a person's health. In addition to increasing a person's risk of developing cancer and cardiovascular disease, smoking can also affect a person's lung function. One way of measuring the effects of smoking is via determining a person's vital capacity.
Vital Capacity Measurement
A person's vital capacity is the difference in lung volume between when the lungs are fully inflated and when as much air as possible has been expelled, SpirXpert.com explains. A person's vital capacity can either be determined by measuring volume changes when the patient is breathing in or breathing out, resulting in the inspiratory or expiratory vital capacity, respectively. The forced vital capacity is measured by having the patient breath in and out very rapidly and is typically slightly lower than if the patient is allows to breathe more slowly during the testing procedure.
Vital Capacity Numbers
Normal vital capacity measurements are different for men and women due to the differences in their lung sizes. For men, an excellent vital capacity is more than 5.5 L and for women it is more than 4 L. On average, men have a vital capacity between 3.9 and 4.6 L, Trio Enterprises notes, and women have an average vital capacity between 2.8 and 3.5. Anything less than 3 L for men or 2 L for women is considered to be very poor.
Smoking and Vital Capacity
Smoking can lower someone's vital capacity no matter where the person's normal measurements are, NetDoctor states. Smoking damages the lining of the lungs, which makes it less elastic. Decreased elasticity means that the lungs cannot stretch as much to accommodate more air and it also makes it more difficult for the lungs to expel air during exhalation.
Complications
People who smoke often become short of breath more easily because their lungs are not able to adapt as easily to increased oxygen demands. As the damage done by the smoke increases, patients may develop emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which are both conditions which can reduce the amount of air that the lungs are able to hold due to destruction of alveoli and scarring of the lungs.
Treatment
For people who have reduced vital capacity as a result of smoking, tobacco cessation can give the lungs time to heal, thus increasing vital capacity. Regular exercise can also increase vital capacity, Trio Enterprises explains. Regular exercise strengthens the muscles need to inhale and exhale fully and also increases the secretion of surfactant, a chemical which makes it easier for the lungs to expand.
