Effects Of Smoking Flashcards
What are 5 substances found in cigarette smoke?
Nicotine, tar, carbon monoxide, smoke particles, other chemicals eg arsenic / ammonia
What effect does carbon monoxide have on red blood cells?
It reduces the amount of oxygen that red blood cells can carry
It combines with haemoglobin in red blood cells more easily than oxygen, forming carboxyhaemoglobin
This prevents oxygen from being carried by red blood cells
How does tar in cigarette smoke affect the body?
It contains many chemicals that cause cancer (carcinogens)
These can cause cells to mutate so they divide uncontrollably, causing a tumour, leading to lung cancer
What effect do the chemicals in smoke have on the respiratory system (trachea and bronchi)
They damage the trachea and bronchi - smoke particles irritate the lining of the airways so an excessive amount of mucus is made
Suggest what might happen if the lungs make more mucus than necessary
You end up coughing more to get the mucus out of your trachea / buildup of mucus reduces amount of air getting into lungs making it harder to breath / bacteria can grow in mucus leading to infection
Describe how emphysema affects gas exchange
• It reduces the surface area of the alveoli —> decreased rate of diffusion —> gas exchange is less efficient as oxygen and carbon dioxide are not diffused as quickly / blood carries less oxygen
What affected does cigarette smoke have on the alveoli?
It damages the walls of the alveoli, causing them to break down
The surface area of the alveoli is reduced
This disease is called emphysema
How does the mucus buildup caused by smoke particles affect the cilia?
It causes the paralysis and shortening of the cilia (damages them)
