Smoking - Part 2 (T2)

Question 1

Describe the dangers of carbon monoxide in tobacco smoke…

Answer 1

• carbon monoxide binds to the haemoglobin in the blood stream and prevents it from carrying enough oxygen around the body
• the heart needs to beat faster to supply the body with all it needs
• eventually this can lead to a lung disease called COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)

Question 2

What are oxidant gases and what makes them dangerous in tobacco smoke?

Answer 2

• they are gases that react with oxygen

- they can make blood more likely to clot

Question 3

What are the dangers of benzene in tobacco smoke?

Answer 3

• used to be added to petrol but this was stopped due to health concerns
• exposure can cause cell damage at the genetic level
• it has been linked to a range of cancers

Question 4

Explain the relationship between smoking and nicotine…

Answer 4

Nicotine stimulates the production of adrenaline which increases heart rate, raising blood pressure and increasing the workload of the heart

Question 5

A man who has smoked all his life has a ….. chance of lung cancer by the time he is 75. For a man who stops at 50 he has a ….. chance and only a ….. chance if he stops at 40…

Answer 5

A man who has smoked all his life has a 15.9% chance of lung cancer by the time he is 75. For a man who stops at 50 he has a 6% chance and only a 3% chance if he stops at 40…

Question 6

Briefly, how can smoking cause heart disease?

Answer 6

• smoking damages the lining of your arteries
• some particles in smoke help ‘bad cholesterol’ in the blood stick to blood vessels
• this leads to a build up of fatty material known as atheroma, which makes the arteries narrower
• this can lead to angina, heart attack or stroke

Question 7

Describe how smoking makes you age faster physically…

Answer 7

• smoking changes skin, teeth and hair
• a lack of oxygen and other nutrients reaching the skin damages the collagen and elastin, making skin look saggy and giving it an uneven colouring

Question 8

How can smoking affect sight?

Answer 8

• smoking doubles the chances of sight loss
• tobacco smoke damages the tissues of the eye and increases the risk of AMD (age-related macular degeneration)
• smoking has also been linked to cataracts

Question 9

How can smoking affect oral health?

Answer 9

• yellow teeth
• gum disease
• bad breath

Question 10

How can smoking affect asthma?

Answer 10

• irritating substances settle in the moist lining of the airways, which can cause an attack in someone who has asthma
• smoking could permanently damage the airways and block the benefits of asthma medication

Question 11

How many deaths a year are caused from secondhand smoke?

Answer 11

Approx. 600,000