1.6.15

Effects of Smoking on the Respiratory System

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Smoking and the Respiratory System

Smoking can causes a range of very serious diseases. Cigarette smoke contains harmful chemical such as nicotine, carbon monoxide and carcinogens (cancer-causing chemicals).

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Bronchitis

  • When smoke is breathed in, it damages the cilia cells of the airways.
  • This means the cilia can't waft away the mucus produced by goblet cells, and the mucus builds up.
  • This can leads to bronchitis, where the airways are partly blocked with mucus.
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Cancers

  • The carcinogens can cause tumours to form in the airways.
    • Smoking can cause mouth, throat and lung cancers.
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Emphysema

  • Smoke damages the walls of the alveoli, reducing their surface area.
  • This can cause emphysema, where gas exchange can't happen efficiently, causing shortness of breath.
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Heart disease and strokes

  • Nicotine is very addictive and puts strain on the heart.
  • Carbon monoxide reduces the ability of red blood cells to carry oxygen, which can also put strain on the heart.
  • Both of these substances can cause heart disease and strokes.

Jump to other topics

1Biology

1.1Cells, Tissues & Organs

1.2Reproduction & Variation

1.3Ecological Relationships & Classification

1.4Digestion & Nutrition

1.5Plants & Photosynthesis

1.6Biological Systems & Processes

2Chemistry

2.1Particles

2.2Chemical Reactions

2.3Atoms, Elements, Compounds

2.4The Periodic Table

2.5Materials & the Earth

2.6Reactivity

2.7Energetics

2.8Properties of Materials

3Physics

3.1Energy

3.2Forces & Motion

3.3Waves

3.4Electricity & Magnetism

3.5Matter

3.6Space Physics

4Thinking Scientifically

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