Each year more than 443,000 deaths occur due to smoking while 50,000 deaths are contributed to second hand smoke. The sad thing is, each of these deaths were preventable.
Smoking cigarettes allows you to be exposed to over 49 different carcinogens including formaldehide and ammonia. Every puff you take forces your lungs to work harder to oxygenate other cells in the body. In addition to this, it also depletes Elastin, an enzyme in the lungs which allows them to be more flexible. With depletion in elastin, you become more susceptible to emphysema.
Tar is inhaled from a cigarette which coats lungs. This tar not only damages your lungs, but your heart as well. For this reason, smoking causes 160,000 deaths in the United States every year. In addition to these negative effects, smoking also rises blood pressure and increases clotting time which then leads to stroke.
Smoking and the lungs:
The lungs are lined with tiny air sacs called the alveoli which are responsible for the exchange of oxygen and gases through the epithelial cells. The alveoli are covered by a layer of pulmonary surfactant; their purpose is to prevent the alveoli from collapsing during an exhale. Smoking creates the inability to receive oxygen from the blood and is responsible for 90% of all lung cancer deaths in men and 80% in women.
Lung Cancer:
Oddly enough, you do not have to be a smoker to get lung cancer. There are numerous cases of people dying from lung cancer who never smoked in their entire lives. It is documented that out of 20,000 new cases of lung cancer, 10 to 15% will not be smokers. Additional causes of lung cancer include:
Second-hand smoke Arsenic Asbestos Chromium Radon gas - the number one cause of lung cancer in those who don't smoke. Excessive exposure to radiation
How lung cancer develops:
Lung cancer presents due to the exposure to carcinogens in the air, often in the places where we live and work, resulting in lesions or tumor growth. Tumors are an uncontrolled overgrowth of cells. These mutated cells form growths that can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). They begin to grow and cause obstructions, later pressing on other nearby organs causing extreme pain. Most lung cancers aren't found until they are in their later stages.
How is lung cancer treated?
Treatment for lung cancer is dependent upon the severity and type of the cancer. In general, there are three types of treatment which include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Sometimes a combination of all three may be used. In addition, there are always new clinical trials becoming available. Your healthcare provider can help you determine if your case is a match for any of these trials.
Smoking cigarettes allows you to be exposed to over 49 different carcinogens including formaldehide and ammonia. Every puff you take forces your lungs to work harder to oxygenate other cells in the body. In addition to this, it also depletes Elastin, an enzyme in the lungs which allows them to be more flexible. With depletion in elastin, you become more susceptible to emphysema.
Tar is inhaled from a cigarette which coats lungs. This tar not only damages your lungs, but your heart as well. For this reason, smoking causes 160,000 deaths in the United States every year. In addition to these negative effects, smoking also rises blood pressure and increases clotting time which then leads to stroke.
Smoking and the lungs:
The lungs are lined with tiny air sacs called the alveoli which are responsible for the exchange of oxygen and gases through the epithelial cells. The alveoli are covered by a layer of pulmonary surfactant; their purpose is to prevent the alveoli from collapsing during an exhale. Smoking creates the inability to receive oxygen from the blood and is responsible for 90% of all lung cancer deaths in men and 80% in women.
Lung Cancer:
Oddly enough, you do not have to be a smoker to get lung cancer. There are numerous cases of people dying from lung cancer who never smoked in their entire lives. It is documented that out of 20,000 new cases of lung cancer, 10 to 15% will not be smokers. Additional causes of lung cancer include:
Second-hand smoke Arsenic Asbestos Chromium Radon gas - the number one cause of lung cancer in those who don't smoke. Excessive exposure to radiation
How lung cancer develops:
Lung cancer presents due to the exposure to carcinogens in the air, often in the places where we live and work, resulting in lesions or tumor growth. Tumors are an uncontrolled overgrowth of cells. These mutated cells form growths that can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). They begin to grow and cause obstructions, later pressing on other nearby organs causing extreme pain. Most lung cancers aren't found until they are in their later stages.
How is lung cancer treated?
Treatment for lung cancer is dependent upon the severity and type of the cancer. In general, there are three types of treatment which include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Sometimes a combination of all three may be used. In addition, there are always new clinical trials becoming available. Your healthcare provider can help you determine if your case is a match for any of these trials.
About the Author:
Barb Hicks is a registered nurse and highly regarded writer who loves to share her knowledge. She is a featured writer on Clivir.com where she provides more articles about Smoking Heart Problems and How to Stop Smoking Cigarettes .
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