8/12/2019 Smoking and Respiratory Diseases Go Hand in Hand

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Smoking and respiratory diseases go hand in hand. There are plenty of diseases caused by smoking, but

the most common diseases are of the respiratory system. The more a smoker smokes, the more he is

exposed to these deadly diseases. Smoking harms the respiratory system badly, and can cause many

serious complications. Maybe an overview of the deadly respiratory diseases will help the addicts get

over this deadly addiction. Let's have a quick look at some of the commonly asked FAQs, concerning this

topic.

What are the Functions of the Respiratory System?

The most important function of the respiratory system is its role in the breathing process. The organs of

the respiratory system work collectively to make breathing or respiration a success. Respiration is a

combination of the process of inhalation and exhalation, that is taking in and breathing out of air,

respectively. The lung is the chief organ that performs the essential function of respiration. The organs

that make the respiratory system protect the lungs from the damage from smoke, dust, and other

chemicals.

How Does Smoking Harm the Respiratory System?

A smoker takes in the smoke from the cigarette into his body, this is obvious. The smoke then passes

through the organs and airways of the lungs, and subsequently reaches the lungs. The smoke consists of

chemicals like nicotine and tobacco. These are the two most dangerous ingredients in the smoke that

damage the lungs and other organs of the respiratory system. The build up of these diseases is slow and

dangerous; and the chemicals in the respiratory tract causes diseases.

Smoking and Respiratory Problems

This was the overview of the respiratory system. Now comes the crux of this article: diseases of the

respiratory system caused by smoking. The minor effects of smoking on the respiratory system are

throat and bronchial irritation (infection of the airways), that gives the huffiness in the voice. With time,

these minor problems transform themselves into problems like bronchitis and pneumonia, asthma, and

emphysema. Serious and fatal diseases of the respiratory system are COPD and lung cancer. A brief

description of each disease is given below.

Bronchitis: Bronchitis affects the air passages of the lungs. It also affects the nose, sinuses, and

eventually the lungs. The common symptoms associated with bronchitis are chest discomfort, fever, and

fatigue.

Pneumonia: It is a fact that smokers are at a high risk of pneumonia, and smoking is a high risk factor

that causes pneumonia. Chills, fever, shortness of breath, headache, and loss of appetite, are some of

the common symptoms of pneumonia.

Tuberculosis: Though the fact has not been established, there is a serious doubt that smoking does

contributes to the occurrence of tuberculosis in a person. Serious symptoms associated with

tuberculosis are coughing (with blood), fever, and excessive weight loss.

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Asthma: As the smoke enters the body, it harms the airway passages, and persistent smoking leads to

the swelling and irritation of the airways. This leads to cough and shortness of breath. The chemicals in

the smoke more often lead to this blockage of passage, and increase the chance of asthma.

COPD: COPD stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A person suffering from COPD faces

obstruction during the breathing process. There are two main forms of COPD, chronic bronchitis and

emphysema. In chronic bronchitis, there is persistent cough which is accompanied by mucus, and in

emphysema, the lungs are affected and get destroyed over time. Coughing (with mucus), fatigue and

respiratory infections, are the common symptoms of COPD and emphysema.

Cancer: Smoking is said to be the single biggest cause of lung cancer. Moreover, it also increases the

chance of other cancers like cancer of the mouth, larynx and pharynx. Persistent smokers are at a high

risk of respiratory system organ cancers. The smoke contains at least 80 different cancer causing

chemicals, that harm the respiratory tract and the lungs. Cancer is an incurable disease, and only

quitting smoking can help prevent the occurrence of cancer.

A smoker also runs a high risk of influenza, and persistent smoking can lead to influenza related

infections too. You can see that all the above-mentioned diseases are dangerous and can prove fatal. In

case of serious complications of these diseases, you need to take serious treatment to cure the

symptoms. All these are the long term effects of smoking. Though these diseases do not affect each and

every smoker, there is no valid point in risking. Smoking is a dangerous habit that can cause much more

harm than these listed diseases. So quit smoking and secure a happy and trouble-free future for yourself

and your family.

Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/smoking-related-respiratory-diseases.html 

Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung affecting primarilythe microscopic air sacs known as alveoli.[1][2] It is usually caused by

infection with viruses or  bacteria and less commonly

other  microorganisms, certain drugs and other conditions such

asautoimmune diseases.[1][3] 

Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB (short for tubercle bacillus), in the past

also called phthisis, phthisis pulmonalis, or consumption, is a

common, and in many cases fatal, infectious disease caused byvarious strains of  mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium

tuberculosis.[1] Tuberculosis typically attacks the lungs, but can also

affect other parts of the body.

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5 Diseases & Disorders in theCirculatory System

Last Updated: Jan 22, 2014 | By Kalli HarrisonHigh blood pressure can indicate heart and circulatory diseases. Photo Credit blood pressure

image by Zbigniew Nowak from Fotolia.com 

Overview The circulatory system, or cardiovascular system, is made up of the heart, veins,arteries and capillaries. This system is responsible for carrying oxygen and

nutrients to all parts of the body. Heart disease and other circulatory problems are

major sources of disability and death. According to the American Heart

Association, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the UnitedStates.

Aortic Aneurysm 

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The aorta is the major blood vessel carrying blood away from the heart.

Weakening of the blood vessel wall causes a bulge, called an aneurysm. Large orfast growing aneurysms can rupture, causing significant loss of blood into the

abdominal cavity. Most aneurysms occur in the abdominal area, but some begin

higher up in the chest. Usually, aortic aneurysms do not cause symptoms. Ifsymptoms do occur, they may include back, chest or abdominal pain. A person

might be aware of a pulsating feeling around the naval area. Treatment optionsrange from watchful waiting to surgery, depending on the size and location of theaneurysm.

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Atherosclerosis Atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, develops when plaque builds up in the

arteries. Plaques are made up of cells, connective tissue and certain fats. Thesedeposits occur in patches along the inner walls of large and medium sized arteries.

Growth of plaques can block blood flow and oxygen to the affected areas, possibly

leading to a heart attack or stroke. Smoking and high blood pressure are two majorrisk factors for developing atherosclerosis.

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Deep Vein Thrombosis Deep vein thrombosis -- DVT -- occurs when blood clots form in one of the deep

veins -- typically the thigh or calf. Many people with the condition do not havesymptoms, but they may have leg pain, swelling or skin discoloration in the

affected area. DVT can be life-threatening if the clot travels to the lungs -- acondition called pulmonary embolism. This condition causes shortness of breath

and pain with deep breathing. Factors contributing to the formation of a DVT are being bed ridden, prolonged sitting, trauma to the area, pregnancy and obesity.Medication is typically used to break up clots.

Polyarteritis Nodosa 

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Ployarteritis nodosa -- PAN -- is a serious inflammatory disease of the small to

medium sized arteries. Many body systems are involved, including the skin, centralnervous system, heart, kidneys and intestinal tract. PAN is commonly associated

with hepatitis B infection, but in most cases the cause for the illness is unknown.

Symptoms of PAN are quite variable, although fever, night sweats, weight loss,fatigue, and muscle and joint aches are typical. Treatment of the disease depends

on the extent of the illness, and which parts of the body are involved.Corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive drugs are often used.

Arteriovenous Malformations Arteriovenous malformations -- AVMs -- are abnormal tangles of blood vessels

within an area of the circulatory system. They typically develop before or rightafter birth. AVMs that form in the brain or spinal cord can result in particularly

severe problems and even death. Most people with AVMs in the brain or spinal

cord experience few, if any symptoms. If they do occur, it is due to a decrease inoxygen to the area, bleeding, or pressing on a vital structure. Headaches, seizuresand paralysis are some possible side effects.

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