Effect of Smoking on the Lungs: Understanding the consequences

The harmful effect of smoking on the lungs is a major worry when it comes to thoracic health. It significantly impairs lung function and general health according to renowned thoracic surgeon in Mumbai, Dr. George Karimundackal.

The damage that smoking does to thoracic health—which includes lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)—cannot be overstated. Did you know that 85% of  lung cancer are associated with smoking?

Read on to know how the lungs are affected by smoking and how it wreaks havoc on your respiratory system.

What is the immediate impact of smoking on the lungs?

Smoking can affect your lungs immediately, and can result in:

Excessive mucous secretion: Smoking causes the cells in your airways to malfunction, resulting in the overproduction of mucous, which is a sticky thick substance. This mucus blocks the airways making it difficult to breathe and eliminate hazardous particles.

Inflammation: The tar-filled cigarette smoke irritates the delicate lining of your airways’ causing inflammation. This may lead to wheezing, coughing, and a burning sensation in your chest.

Ciliary dysfunction: The cilia that line your airways get paralyzed due to cigarette smoke. Due to this, their function gets impaired and they cannot remove the waste and dust from the airways, leading to lung infection.
Dr. George Karimundackal, a leading lung cancer surgeon in Mumbai, states that these early symptoms are distress signals by your body, warning you about the potential harm.

What are the effects of smoking on the lungs?

Respiratory problems caused by smoking are:

• Chronic bronchitis: This is characterized by constant coughing with mucus production due to inflammation.
• Recurring infections: It is common for smokers to be prone to respiratory infections, like pneumonia and bronchitis because of paralyzed cilia and difficulty in clearing the mucus.
• Reduced lung capacity: The damaged airways and air sacs become less elastic, resulting in reduced capacity of the lungs to hold air. This leads to breathlessness even in the absence of strenuous activity

These immediate consequences show how lungs affected by smoking gradually damage and weaken your once robust thoracic cavity.

• Emphysema: Smoke adversely affects the alveoli, or air sacs, in your lungs over time leading to emphysema. It is a chronic lung condition that causes acute shortness of breath.
• Lung cancer: The main risk factor for lung cancer is smoking. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer related death in the world.
• Risk of other diseases: As smoking damages your respiratory system, it makes you more vulnerable to contracting pulmonary fibrosis and other lung conditions.

In the long run, smoking can cause fatal infections and damage your lungs permanently. This can greatly reduce your quality of life.

However, you can visit the highly acclaimed lung cancer specialist in Mumbai, Dr. George Karimundackal for comprehensive treatment. He has 15+ years of experience and is an expert in minimally invasive surgery.

What happens to the lungs after smoking cessation?

You will notice improvement in your lungs over a period of time after smoking cessation.

Positive effects

• Better lung function: As lung capacity improves, it makes it easier to breathe and engage in physical activity.
• Decreased inflammation: Less inflammation in the airways helps reduce coughing, wheezing, and chest tightness.
• Improved ciliary activity: The cilia that line your airways, will start functioning normally and help clear the waste and mucus from your lungs.
• Disease risk reduction: Your chances of developing COPD and lung cancer will reduce substantially.

Long-term effects

• Scarring: Smoking can permanently harm the lung tissue leading to a reduction in lung function. This may not be reversible even with smoking cessation
• Prone to infections: You may still be more susceptible to respiratory infections even after you stop smoking.

Tips to help quicken the recovery process

• Regular exercise: Physical activity improves lung function and overall health.
• Healthy diet: A nutritious diet can provide your body with the building blocks it needs to heal.
• Avoid secondhand smoke: Inhaling second-hand smoke is just as dangerous as smoking and any exposure should be avoided

How does smoking affect other parts of our body?

Smoking can negatively impact your health other than just your lungs.

• Heart: Smoking makes you more prone to strokes, heart attacks, peripheral artery disease, and blood pressure.
• Fertility: Smoking may cause infertility in men by affecting their sperm count and motility. It can also play havoc with a woman’s menstrual cycle and increase the chance of premature delivery and miscarriage.
• Immune system: Smoking lowers your immunity making you vulnerable to infections and diseases like cold, flu, and pneumonia.
• Oral health: Smoking may cause bad breath, discolored teeth, and gum disease. Furthermore, it can slow down the healing process of dental treatment.
• Bone health: Smoking weakens bones and increases the risk of osteoporosis, especially in women.

Conclusion

Smoking harms thoracic health, causing breathing problems and lung damage. It is best to quit smoking and you can take the help of your doctor in doing so. They can support you by developing a plan for quitting.

You can contact Dr. George Karimundackal, a lung cancer specialist in Mumbai at Nanavati Max Hospital if you have any of the above-mentioned symptoms for comprehensive treatment and care.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What are the most common lung diseases caused by smoking?

A. The most common lung diseases caused by smoking include:

• COPD
• Emphysema
• Lung cancer

Q. How long does it take for the lungs to recover after quitting smoking?

A. It all depends on the individual health and the period he has been smoking. However, you will see improvements in your lung functions within a couple of months.

References:

https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/pneumonia https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-(copd)#:~:text=Overview,damaged%20or%20clogged%20with%20phlegm.