Smoking and Lung Damage Flashcards

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Which sticky black substance in cigarette smoke coats the lungs and contains many carcinogens?

Tar.

What are cilia and how does tar from cigarette smoke affect them?

Cilia are tiny hairs on the cells that line the airways. Tar stops them moving and can kill them.

Why do smokers often have more mucus in their trachea and bronchi?

Smoke and tar irritate the lining of the airways, so the cells make more mucus. Damaged cilia cannot move it away.

How can damaged cilia and a build-up of mucus lead to more chest infections in smokers?

Bacteria and viruses get trapped in the mucus. Because it is not moved out of the lungs, they can grow and cause infection.

What is bronchitis and how is it linked to smoking?

Bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchi, where the airways swell and fill with mucus, causing coughing and breathlessness. It is often caused by irritation from cigarette smoke.

What happens to the alveoli in the lungs of a person with emphysema caused by long-term smoking?

The thin walls of the alveoli break down and join together. This reduces the surface area for gas exchange, so less oxygen enters the blood and the person becomes very short of breath.

How does tar in cigarette smoke increase the risk of lung cancer?

Tar contains carcinogens that damage DNA in lung cells. This can make the cells divide out of control and form a cancerous tumour.

What is a carcinogen?

A carcinogen is a substance that increases the risk of cancer.

How does carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke affect the blood's ability to carry oxygen?

Carbon monoxide binds to haemoglobin in red blood cells. This means the blood carries less oxygen around the body.

Why do many smokers develop a 'smoker's cough'?

Their cilia are damaged, so mucus builds up in the lungs. They cough to try to move the mucus out of the airways.