Smoking causes over 443,000 deaths in the United States each year that could have been prevented while second hand smoke kills over 50,000 people each year.
Smoking cigarettes exposes your lungs to at least 49 carcinogens such as formaldehyde and ammonia. Your lungs have natural defenses which are being destroyed each time you take a puff on a cigarette, forcing your lungs to work harder to oxygenate the cells of the body. Smoking also depletes the elastin, an enzyme that enables lung flexibility. Without elastin, you are more susceptible for the development of 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:
Tiny air sacs line the lungs and are called alveoli. These air sacs are responsible for the exchange of oxygen and gases through epithelial cells. The alveoli are covered with pulmonary surfactant which prevents the alveoli from collapsing during exhalation. Smoking cigarettes prevents the alveoli from receiving oxygen. For this reason, lung cancer is 90% responsible for death among men and 80% responsible for death among women.
Lung Cancer:
You don't necessarily have to smoke to get lung cancer. There are reported cases of people who have died from lung cancer who have never smoked in their lives. Of 20,000 new cases, ten to fifteen percent of these new cases are people who never smoked. Other 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:
Exposure to carcinogens in the air are the root cause of lung cancer. These are usually found in the air in our homes, work or environment. These carcinogens lead to lesions on the lungs which then become tumors. These growths can be benign which means non cancerous or malignant meaning cancerous. As they grow, the tumors begin to put pressure on other nearby organs resulting in severe pain. Unfortunately, most lung cancers are not detected until they are in their later stages.
Treatment for lung cancer?
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. - 30285
Smoking cigarettes exposes your lungs to at least 49 carcinogens such as formaldehyde and ammonia. Your lungs have natural defenses which are being destroyed each time you take a puff on a cigarette, forcing your lungs to work harder to oxygenate the cells of the body. Smoking also depletes the elastin, an enzyme that enables lung flexibility. Without elastin, you are more susceptible for the development of 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:
Tiny air sacs line the lungs and are called alveoli. These air sacs are responsible for the exchange of oxygen and gases through epithelial cells. The alveoli are covered with pulmonary surfactant which prevents the alveoli from collapsing during exhalation. Smoking cigarettes prevents the alveoli from receiving oxygen. For this reason, lung cancer is 90% responsible for death among men and 80% responsible for death among women.
Lung Cancer:
You don't necessarily have to smoke to get lung cancer. There are reported cases of people who have died from lung cancer who have never smoked in their lives. Of 20,000 new cases, ten to fifteen percent of these new cases are people who never smoked. Other 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:
Exposure to carcinogens in the air are the root cause of lung cancer. These are usually found in the air in our homes, work or environment. These carcinogens lead to lesions on the lungs which then become tumors. These growths can be benign which means non cancerous or malignant meaning cancerous. As they grow, the tumors begin to put pressure on other nearby organs resulting in severe pain. Unfortunately, most lung cancers are not detected until they are in their later stages.
Treatment for lung cancer?
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. - 30285
About the Author:
A licensed registered nurse and passionate writer, Barb Hicks loves to share her knowledge about Smoking Health Effects and Quit Smoking Shots with others on Clivir.com.
