Smoking tobacco causes approximately 90 percent of lung cancer deaths in men in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Each year almost half a million people in the United States die from adverse health effects caused by smoking cigarettes. Smoking tobacco also severely affects normal lung function.
Increase in Mucus
Cigarette smoke can cause a number of changes in your lungs and airways. When inhaled the chemicals in cigarette smoke stimulate the growth and production of mucosal cells in your lungs. Increases in size and number of these cells leads to the production of excess mucus in the lungs, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Individuals who smoke also tend to develop thicker forms of mucus in the lungs. The American Cancer Society (ACS) notes that these effects from smoking may lead to additional symptoms, such as persistent cough or the development of respiratory diseases.
Contamination
In normal healthy lungs, small broom-like hairs called cilia help your body clean out lung contamination. This ensures that your lungs continue to function normally and that disease and infection do not remain there. When inhaled, the chemicals within cigarette smoke cause the cilia to perform this crucial cleaning function at a much slower rate. According to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, smoking just one cigarette can cause your cilia to slow down for several hours. Cigarette smoke may also decrease the number of cilia available to help clean your lungs. These effects on the lungs from smoking may allow your lungs to become contaminated by infection or disease, leading to a number of medical problems.
Irritation and Inflammation
The harsh chemicals present in cigarette smoke can cause the tissue within your lungs to become irritated or inflamed. When this occurs your airway may constrict and become narrower, limiting the amount of oxygen that can flow into your lungs. Though it is normal for lung function to decrease with age, smoking speeds up this process and causes your lungs to age at a faster rate than normal. These effects on the lungs from smoking may lead to additional breathing problems, such as coughing or wheezing, in certain people.
Destruction of Tissue
According to the Better Health Channel, smoking cigarettes can lead to permanent damage of the tissue and air sacs in the lungs. When this occurs the amount of oxygen carried by the blood is severely decreased.This can lead to additional problems throughout your body such as organ damage. These effects may leave you more susceptible to lung infection or disease.
