You’ve probably heard of this disclaimer on multiple occasions – ‘smoking is injurious to health’. What you may not immediately realise is the extent of the damage smoking can cause to your health and, most directly, your lungs.
Smoking is known to be the leading cause of preventable diseases and deaths globally. Nearly all forms of lung cancer—the top cause of cancer death in both men and women can be attributed to smoking. Tobacco and tobacco-related products can damage the lungs’ ability to supply oxygen to the body. Other substances commonly found in cigarette smoke can cause permanent lung damage, even in small amounts.
A single puff of cigarette smoke contains upwards of 7,000 chemicals. Tobacco smoke contains over 70 known cancer-causing chemicals. When you breathe these in, these toxins go deep into your lungs and can cause swelling, resulting in a host of other respiratory diseases.
Both tobacco and chemical substances found in cigarettes can change the cellular structure of the lungs. They can cause the elastic walls within the airways to break down – resulting in less functioning surface area in the lungs. Cigarettes can damage lung tissue, preventing them from functioning correctly. This can increase the risk of diseases caused by smoking, such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema, respiratory diseases, asthma and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease).
Nicotine in tobacco can also damage the ability of the respiratory system to filter out dust and dirt. This can lead to toxic substances passing through, resulting in lung congestion and the ‘smoker’s cough’.
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A person who smokes throughout life is at high risk of developing a range of potentially fatal diseases owing to impaired lung function and breathlessness due to swelling and narrowing of the lung airways and excess mucus build-up. They are also prone to weakening the lungs’ clearance system, leading to the accumulation of toxic substances and causing lung irritation and damage. Further, they are also at an increased risk of lung infection, chronic bronchitis and heightened risk of asthma, along with permanent damage to air sacs.
In the longer term, smoking is known to induce heart disease and stroke, in certain cases, it can cause ulcers of the digestive system and put smokers at increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
Most smokers are also likely to develop emphysema. The number of cigarettes you smoke and other lifestyle factors may impact the extent of the damage. If you’re diagnosed with either of these respiratory diseases – emphysema or chronic bronchitis, you run the risk of being diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
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Smoking can affect a person’s health in other ways, too, harming almost every organ in the body. In most cases, it can result in a compromised immune system function, making you susceptible to many other illnesses. It can also lead to lower bone density (brittle bones), which increases the risk of broken bones and fractures. Smoking also leaves you at a higher risk of rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease and stroke, along with an increased risk for cataracts (clouding of the eye lenses).
Apart from respiratory diseases, other visible disorders include an increased risk of oral cancers, gum disease and tooth loss, premature ageing of the skin, bad breath and stained teeth and an increased risk for age-related macular degeneration, which can lead to blindness. Moreover, even your wounds may take longer to heal!
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It’s never too late to quit smoking. Within days of quitting smoking, lungs begin to repair themselves. In fact, just 12 hours after you quit, the amount of carbon monoxide in your blood drops to a much healthier level. More oxygen flows to your vital organs and you will be able to breathe better. In about 10 to 15 years, your risk of developing lung cancer reduces and may even become the same as a non-smoker.
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Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
Since we are born, the very first thing we do is we breathe! Breathing feeds oxygen to every cell in the body through the lungs and expels out waste carbon dioxide. However, we usually take our lung functions and breathing for granted. We don’t consider the importance of our lungs unless we experience breathing problems, and the COVID-19 pandemic teaches us this!
A lung capacity and volume are the total amounts of air that hold your lungs during inspiration and expiration. Over time, as we age, our lung capacity and functions decrease. Smoking, pollution, and other health problems such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can make it worse.
Though a person unable to control the amount of oxygen their lung can hold, lung exercises provide ways to help your lungs become more efficient at managing airflow and oxygen levels. Here are some basic exercises to improve your lung health along with its functional capacity.
1: Pursed-lip breathing
Pursed-lip breathing exercise is easy and can be done anywhere at any time. This exercise keeps your airway open for longer that facilitates the airflow into and out of the lung. These make it easier for the lungs to function and improves the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. This exercise can be beneficial for people who have less physical activity and not using their breathing muscles frequently. Steps to follow pursed-lip breathing –
2: Diaphragmatic breathing or belly breathing
Diaphragmatic breathing is one of the best exercises that use a diaphragm, a dome-shaped sheet of muscles present between the chest and abdomen. It is also known as belly breathing as the stomach rises and falls with each breath. It is supposed to be primary breathing, but many of us develop a habit of using neck and back muscles that limit the amount of air that enters and leaves the lungs. Follow these steps to practice diaphragmatic breathing –
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3: Rib stretch
Rib stretch itself suggests what it says, stretch your ribs, which move during each breath.
4: Yawn to smile
This exercise gives space to your diaphragm to expand and provides strength to the chest muscles.
5: Humming
Any activity that works the abdominal muscles also works the lungs. A simple humming can increase your lung capacity. It also forces stale air out of the lungs so more fresh air can enter. It reduces stress and can help the patient remain in restoration mode.
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6: Simhasan or Lion pose
It is a unique pose that requires you to make a sound. The sound created during Simhasana resembles the roaring sound of a lion.
Pranayama or breath regulation, another important breathing exercise, can enhance the efficiency of healthy individuals and athletes by enhancing the ventilatory functions of the lungs, especially for those who partake in aerobic-based sports and require efficient lungs to deliver sufficient oxygen uptake.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
Benefits of breathing exercises
The diaphragm is a group of muscles attached to the bottom of your lungs and is the main apparatus that controls breathing. When it contracts (along with other muscles in your lungs and ribs) it forces air into the lungs. Using your shoulders and neck muscles for breathing can harm your natural breathing process.
While lung exercises are always good for your health, if you have a chronic lung disease, always consult your doctor before starting an exercise regime. Remember, it’s necessary to listen to your body if you have chronic health problems. Also, you have to practice these exercises regularly for better results.
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Lungs are one of the most affected organs with the changing temperatures and climate. Respiratory disorders stem from a lot of causes- the primary being a genetic predisposition and environmental factors. Exposure to agents that are harmful can also cause severe lung problems. Let us take a look at the most common ones and what you should know about them.
Cold is one of the most common lung infections. It spreads from someone’s coughs and sneezes who are already sick with a cold. It is a viral infection and can trigger bouts of asthma and even pneumonia. The cold has no cure.
When the bronchioles in the lungs get inflamed, it can trigger an asthma attack which causes swelling up of the airways and leads to breathing difficulties. A dry cough, wheezing and shortness of breath are common symptoms. Allergens, pollution and other infections can trigger asthma.
Asthma is a common chronic illness of the lungs and the airways in children, with symptoms such as cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, and more, early diagnosis is often helpful.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj – M.B.B.S, M.D.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or COPD is the common term for many respiratory issues that is symptomized by breathlessness, problems in exhalation, mucus in the lungs, and shortness of breath. It takes time to identify COPD as it takes a long while to develop and the symptoms are usually thought of as an aging process. It is related to smoking.
When the bronchioles, the tubes that carry the air to and fro from the lungs get inflamed, it is known as bronchitis. Allergens, cold, flu, and pollution can cause bronchitis. Colored mucus, sometimes it even has blood, a fever and the infection that lasts for more than three weeks usually are symptoms of bronchitis. It is treated with antibiotics.
When the air sacs in the lung get filled with fluid due to a viral or a bacterial infection, it is known as pneumonia. Fever, breathlessness, cough with thick mucus are some of the symptoms. For pneumonia caused by bacteria, antibiotics help. Drinking lot of fluids is also beneficial.
Rapid breathing, difficulty breathing, or shortness of breath, using rib or neck muscles to help breathe are common signs that one should be vigilant about to diagnose lung disease at an early stage.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj – M.B.B.S, M.D.
When the space between the lungs and the chest wall fills up with fluid, it is known as pleurisy or pleural effusion. This could happen because of pneumonia, congestive heart failure or even cancer. Discomfort in the chest and breathlessness are common symptoms.
Apart from the ones in the blog public should be made aware of Tuberculosis which is a major public health problem and is completely curable. If anyone has cough for more than 2 weeks please get yourself tested for Tuberculosis.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
It is a genetic disease that causes lung airways to clog up with thick, sticky mucus. The patient falls prey to lung infections repeatedly. Frequent lung infections, repeated coughing and poor growth rate with a salty taste on the skin are common symptoms.
This is one of the hardest cancers to detect. It can develop anywhere in the lungs. The tumors pop up near the air sacs. Chronic coughing, voice changes, blood in cough and harsh breathing sounds are common symptoms.
Smoking causes most lung infections. Avoid people sick with lung infections and places that are dusty and are exposed to harsh chemicals. Quit smoking to stay lung happy.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
A human body can only work efficiently if all the organs work in harmony with each other and stay healthy. Each system supports the other and this ensures that the body works smoothly. The same principles are applied to the lungs and heart.
The health of our lungs is a crucial factor in determining the health of our heart. Certain conditions and habits cause damage to the lungs and eventually lead to the improper functioning of the heart:
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease aka COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD is a term used to describe lung diseases such as emphysema and bronchitis. The symptoms include breathlessness, coughing and a feeling of tightness or heaviness in the chest.
Though COPD and heart failure are two different conditions, both can produce very similar symptoms. The presence of COPD is known to influence left-sided heart failure. This is due to the reason that COPD reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. This, in turn, strains the heart and can lead to heart failure.
If a person is already suffering from a heart condition, the medication used to treat the same could interfere with the functioning of the lungs. For instance, drugs such as Lopressor (prescribed to heart patients) could constrict the muscles around the respiratory system and make it difficult to breathe comfortably.
Inversely, the medication used to treat COPD (bronchodilators) can increase the heart rate and cause palpitations.
Smoking
It is a known fact that smoking causes significant damage to the lungs. Since it causes degeneration of the lung tissue, the oxygen availability in the heart decreases.
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It increases the risk of heart failure and stroke. This is because the carbon monoxide present in tobacco reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood. This puts a significant amount of stress on the heart muscles, which can lead to heart failure in the long run. This, in turn, causes the breathing rate and blood pressure to increase.
Smoking also contributes to developing COPD and both of these are potent risk factors for heart diseases.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
