Sunday, June 25, 2017

2.49: Understand the Biological Consequences of Smoking in Relation to the Lungs and the Circulatory System, Including Coronary Heart Disease


CONSEQUENCES OF SMOKING
EFFECT ON AIR PASSAGES:

  • Tar in cigarettes destroy the Cilia (which carries away dust and microbes trapped in Mucus), therefore causing the buildup of Mucus and increasing risk of Bronchitis
  • Tar in cigarettes contain carcinogens that increases risk of Lung Cancer

EFFECT ON ALVEOLI:

  • Tar in cigarettes break down Alveoli walls and causes them to merge together, decreasing the surface area to volume ratio for gas exchange
  • Insufficient gas exchange will increase the risk of Emphysema - shortness of breath due to insufficient Oxygen transport in blood

EFFECT ON CIRCULATORY SYSTEM:

  • Nicotine in cigarettes causes blood vessels to narrow, placing strain on circulatory system and results in the increase in blood pressure
  • Narrowing of blood vessels also causes the build-up of Fat globules, increasing risk of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
  • CHD involves the blockage of Coronary Artery by Fat globules (forming plaques), causing insufficient Oxygen transport in blood leading to increased anaerobic respiration (due to lack of Oxygen)
  • Increase in anaerobic respiration causes build-up of Lactic acid which creates acidic environment for enzymes to denature, hence causing strokes
  • Carbon Monoxide from cigarette smoking will bind irreversibly to Haemoglobin, reducing capacity of Oxygen transport by Red blood cells and hence increases the risk of Emphysema - shortness of breath due to insufficient Oxygen transport in blood

6 comments: