Smoking

Question 1

What substances are found in cigarettes?

Answer 1

• Tar
• Nicotine
• Carbon monoxide

Question 2

How does smoking damage airways?

Answer 2

• Impairment of cilia and mucus-secreting cells leading to a build up in mucus
• Irritation of bronchi causing cough and damage to lung tissue

Question 3

What does smoking increase the risk of?

Answer 3

• Lung disease
• Heart disease
• Lung, mouth and oesophageal cancer

Question 4

Impact of smoking on alveoli?

Answer 4

• Emphysema: Damage to the walls of the alveoli causing them to break down and join. This makes air spaces larger than normal, reducing efficiency of gas exchange and can lead to the blood not receiving enough oxygen to supply body.

Question 5

Carbon monoxide?

Answer 5

• CO readily binds with haemoglobin in place of oxygen. This puts a lot more strain on the heart to be able to deliver sufficient oxygen supplies to the body’s tissues.

Question 6

What does carbon monoxide increase the risk of?

Answer 6

• Coronary heart disease
• Having a stroke