The effects of smoking on the lungs and associated tissues If the lungs are to be able to exchange gases properly, the air passages need to be clear, the alveoli to be free from dirt particles and bacteria, and they must have as biga surface area as possible in contact with the blood. There is one habit that can upset all of these conditions ~ smoking, Links between smoking and diseases of the lungs are now a proven fact. Smoking Is associated with lung cancer, bronchitis and emphysema. It is also a major contributing factor to other problems, such as coronary heart disease and ulcers of the stomach and duodenum (part of the intestine). Pregnant women who smoke are more likely to give birth to underweight babies. We need to deal with some of these effects in more detail Effects of smoke on the lining of the air passages You saw above how the lungs are kep ite of particles of dirt and bacteria by the action of mucus and cilia, In the tracheu and bronchi of a smoker, the cilia are destroye by the cliemicals in cigaretie smoke, Compare Figure 74 with the same photo taken of the lining of a smoker's airways (Figure 3.8), ‘The reduced numbers of cilia mean that the mucus is ot swept away from the lungs, but remains to clog the aic passages, This is made worse by the fact that the smoke icitates the lining ofthe airways, stimalating the calls to secrete more mucus. The clogging mucusis the source of ‘stnoker's cough’. Iritation of the bronchial tee, along with infections from bacteria in the mucus can cause the hing disease bronchitis. ironchiti blocks normal air low. so the sullerer has dificult breathing proper Figure 38 Th cron mieegph sw cha frente race of aoe: Nate th redced Emphysema numba Emphysema is another lung discase that hills about 20 000 peopl in Britain every sear, Smoke damages the walls ofthe alveoh, which break down and fuse together ‘gal, forming enlarged, leregula alr spaces Figure 3.9). This greatly reduces the surface area for gas exchange, which becomes very Ineflicient, The blood ofa person with emphysema carries less oxygen. In serious cases, this leads to the sufferer being unable to carry out even mikl exercise, sack as walking, Emphysema patients often have to have a supply of oxygen nearby at all times (Figure 3.10). There is no cure for emphysema, and usually the sufferer dies alter along and distressing illness‘alveoli ins ormal lung alveoli in the = lung ofa person | | suffering from cemphyserra Figure 3.9 The alveoli of a person suffering jrom emphysema have a greatly reduced surface area and inefficient gas exchange Figure 3.10 This man suffers from emphysema ‘and has to breathe from an oxygen oflinder to stay alive