“Cigarette smoking is one of the greatest health hazards of the 21st century”

It is a hazard entirely preventable by a personal decision not to smoke! marized below. Studies show that the death rate from these two respiratory diseases is six times greater than for non-smokers—a 600% difference! Ex-smokers had a death rate later. HE The death rate for Chronic Bronchitis and emphysema has increased as cigarette consumption has increased: less than a pack a day-a 500% increase, five times as many deaths; More than a pack a day, an 800% increase.

What Is Chronic Bronchitis?

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the Air Tubes. Chronic bronchitis is a persistently recurrent inflammation of the lining of the air tubes. Excessive mucus is produced by the cells which make up this lining, and there is increased coughing to bring up this “phlegm.” The deep coughing and thick mucus may make it difficult to breathe. When these symptoms are present most of the time for at least three months and for at least two years in a row, chronic bronchitis is probably present.

What Is Emphysema?

Emphysema is an impairment of the bellows action of the lungs. It may be the end result of other respiratory diseases, such as chronic bronchitis.

In emphysema, the walls of the millions of tiny air sacs (alveoli) within the lungs are gradually destroyed. The lungs lose elasticity and can no longer expand and contract easily to draw in and force out air. Emphysema is a crippling disease, slowly robbing the body of the ability to exchange oxygen and

Carbon dioxide. It also presents an increased burden to the heart, which must pump blood through the damaged lungs.

Effect of Cigarette Smoking

Every puff of cigarette smoke contains billions of tiny unburned particles along with gases. As this mixture condenses, it produces the thick, yellow-brown

liquid known as tobacco tar. When cigarette smoke is inhaled, 80 to 90% of the smoke remains in the body, and a residue of tar builds up in the air tubes.

This residue of tar containing more than 500 chemical compounds penetrates deeply, causing irritation and increased mucus production.

Ordinarily, the mucus is swept up and out of the air tubes rhythmically by tiny moving hair cilia. Cigarette smoking paralyzes this motion and eventually destroys the cilia. The flow of mucus and tar slows down, stops, and then clogs the air tubes. This may result in chronic bronchitis and emphysema..

Whereas, these two diseases are but two of the many disabilities that are more common among smokers than non-smokers, the disabilities they cause should be weighed in a decision to smoke or not to smoke.