The Effects of Smoking in Relation to Selected Diseases

It has been known for many years that smoking has a negative effect and can help the acceleration and actually cause many diseases. I am going to take a look at two specific diseases you may not have heard of or even been aware of what the effects of smoking were on these diseases. The two diseases that we are going to look at are Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and a Peptic Ulcer.

Effects of Smoking On Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease is a lung disease in which the lungs are damaged. The primary cause of this disease is smoking, so as you can see the effect of smoking on this disease is very great. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease can be deadly if not properly treated. The effects of this disease are several fold. The first thing that happens is the airways and air sacs lose their shape and become floppy.

Less air gets in and less air goes out because the airways and air sacs lose their elasticity, kind of like an old rubber band. While this will happen over time as people get older, smoking accelerates this process to the point where permanent and irreversible damage can be caused.

As the disease progresses, the walls between many of the air sacs are destroyed and the walls of the airway become thick and inflamed. Cells in the airways will make more mucus than usual which will clog the airways and make breathing labored and difficult. Many times people who have the disease will have to be put on oxygen for the rest of their lives.

Effects Of Smoking On Peptic Ulcer

A Peptic Ulcer is not caused by smoking, but rather by a virus that causes lesions in your small intestine and stomach. Most ulcers will heal over time, but if you are a smoker than they may never heal. Smoking has a bad effect on ulcers in that they prevent them from healing properly and quickly. The smoke irritates the ulcer and makes it difficult for the tissue to recover. By continuing to smoke, you will continue to irritate the ulcer and make it unable to heal.

As you can see the effects of smoking on these diseases is extremely detrimental. One is caused by smoking; the other is continually irritated by it. In both cases smoking is shown to be incredibly detrimental and it is highly recommended that if you have either of these diseases you quit smoking as soon as possible.

Original article source: Impact Of Smoking On Health