Four Topic Summarised (Diseases)

Question 1

What does carbon monoxide do to the blood?

Answer 1

Carbon monoxide is poisonous and takes up some of the oxygen carrying capacity of your blood. After smoking a cigarette, up to 10% of the blood will be carrying carbon monoxide instead of oxygen, causing a shortage of oxygen, and smokers get more breathless after exercising than non-smokers.

Question 2

How does smoking damage the arteries?

Answer 2

Smoking damages artery lining, including the coronary arteries. This encourages a fatty material build up in the arteries, increasing the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Question 3

How does nicotine harm the body?

Answer 3

It increases the heart rate, straining the heart.

Question 4

How does tar affect the lungs?

Answer 4

Tar, another chemical in tobacco, can accumulate in the lungs, turning them grey. Tar increases the risk of developing bronchitis (bronchi inflammation/infection). The build-up of tar in lung tissue can lead to a breakdown in alveoli structure, causing COPD.

Question 5

What are the effects of COPD?

Answer 5

Smoking damages the bronchioles and can eventually destroy many alveoli in the lungs.
The airways become inflamed and mucus builds up in the lungs.
The person becomes breathless, struggling to obtain oxygen needed for respiration.
Permanent damage.