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What Do the Lungs of a Smoker Look Like?

There is nothing positive or beneficial about smoking cigarettes. Smoking can cause lung cancer and cardiovascular disease. According to the American Cancer Society, one in five people die every year in the United States from using tobacco products.

  1. Lung Damage

    • According to the Lung Association, smoking kills the cilia, or tiny hairs in the lungs, that prevent infection by lining the lungs' airways. When the lungs don't have these natural hairs, chemicals from the cigarettes remain in the lungs, which can lead to cancer or disease.

    Signs of Lung Damage

    • Shortness of breath, coughing up mucous and continuous chest infections are signs that smoking has damaged the lungs.

    Appearance of Smokers' Lungs

    • Smokers' lungs are brown to black in color. Lungs are black in smokers who have smoked for a considerable amount of time. In addition to the color, a smoker's lungs appear to be charred, or burned, in areas. Some smokers' lungs even have raised bubble-like areas on them, according to the Advocacy Forum for Tobacco Control.

    Addiction

    • Smoking is extremely addictive. The longer a person smokes, the more damaged the lungs will become.

    Quitting

    • Quitting smoking can be a difficult and tedious accomplishment. Motivation, encouragement and support from others may help the quitting process.

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