Effects of Cigarettes on the Lungs

Smoking is definitely a disgusting habit. Smoking cigarettes can cause multiple problems from heart-related diseases to skin problems and issues with pregnancy. Quitting smoking is the best way to reduce the negative effects that smoking has on the lungs.  According to the American Lung Association website, cigarette smoke contains 69 carcinogens. Carcinogens are known cancer-causing agents. Why put all of those harmful chemicals into your body?

ecigaretteHave you ever experienced bronchitis caused by smoking? Bronchitis is one smoking-related issue that can be improved by quitting. Many people suffer from bronchitis or chronic bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis makes it hard for people to breathe. This disease is generally expressed by thick, phlegmy mucus. This mucus can cause difficulty breathing and, one way to tell if you have bronchitis, is to see if you are wheezing. Many times, wheezing is caused by bronchitis. Some people who have chronic bronchitis will notice that they are constantly coughing. This is one way that bronchitis expresses itself.

According to the American Lung Association, over nine million Americans experience chronic bronchitis. It is important to note that the problems associated with bronchitis are serious. Sometimes, bronchitis can be brought on or irritated by smoking. Cigarettes affect the lungs in many other ways as well.

Emphysema, another effect of smoking, is characterized by difficulty breathing. People who suffer from emphysema generally experience shortness of breath, wheezing, constant cough, chest pain, and some people may even experience sleep problems. Emphysema is a serious issue that should not be taken lightly.

Emphysema does not happen over night. Emphysema has a slow build up and, because of that, quitting smoking can reduce the effects.  Even though emphysema can sometimes be cause or contributed by genetic factors, smoking is the main cause of emphysema. According to WebMD, the symptoms of emphysema are varied. Some people might experience a blue color in their lips, which results from the low blood oxygen that emphysema causes. Other people might experience clubbed, or round fingers. This, according to the WebMD website, can also be caused by the low levels of blood oxygen. So, not only do cigarettes cause lung problems, these lung problems can, in turn, cause other physical issues like clubbed fingers and blue lips. To avoid these embarrassing physical issues, it is important to quit smoking immediately.

When the tissue of the lung is damaged, it remains. It is not like a little scrape that will heal over time. These lung issues never go away. Once you have lung issues, it is easier to get other illnesses like cold and flu. To protect your lungs and your body, it is important to quit smoking and stop the negative effects of smoking on the lungs. In addition, once your lungs are damaged, it is easier for bacteria and germs to infect your lungs—this causes other lung related issues that be difficult and expensive to deal with.

Now, the best way to rid yourself of these nasty effects on your lungs is to stop smoking altogether, but realistically we all understand that that is not often possible.  A good switch is to start using a nicotine patch, a nicotine gum, or even an e-cigarette.  I’ve seen smokers even join an e-cig affiliate program and be a walking, living testimonial about how they helped them quit smoking.  Make some money on sales, save some money on health care and cigarettes, and save your life by stopping the horrible habit of smoking.

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