TOBACCO
What’s in a Cigarette? More than 4,000 hazardous compounds. The most harmful: Tars: chemicals present in tobacco. Tars are well known carcinogens. Carcinogens: cancer causing agents.
The Respiratory System
THE LUNGS Healthy bronchi, the major breathing tubes leading to each lung. Bronchi are coated with mucus: a slippery secretion produced by the body that protects surfaces of linings. Bronchi are also lined with Cilia: hair like structures.
Smoke Damage to Lungs Tars in cigarettes make mucus abnormally thick. Slow the action of the cilia. Irritation builds making smoker cough “smokers cough” Each puff of a cigarette paralyzes cilia and numbs the throat for a while.
Bronchitis and Emphysema People who smoke ultimately get one or more chronic diseases of the lung. Bronchitis and Emphysema are both chronic diseases of the lung. Bronchitis: a respiratory disorder with irritation of the bronchi, thick mucus, harsh cough. Emphysema: disease of lungs in which many small flexible air sacs burst and form a few large, rigid air pockets.
Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease A term for several diseases that interfere with breathing Asthma, bronchitis and Emphysema are all examples.