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The Effects of Smoking on Breathing

Smoking affects many different systems of the body. The number of chemicals and gases produced from inhaling tobacco smoke can affect blood elements, neurotransmitters and cell generation. Perhaps one of the most commonly studied effects of smoking as it relates to bodily functions is the effects of smoking on breathing. This is likely to be a more understandable side effect of smoking, as it focuses on a readily apparent function that is involved with the act of smoking.

  1. Respiratory Elements Affected by Smoking

    • According to the Center for Young Women's Health at Children's Hospital Boston, the lungs receive the initial brunt of inhaled smoke. The air sacs in the lungs that are responsible for transferring oxygen intake to the blood stream, known as the alveoli, are severely affected by the smoke. They can even be permanently damaged by extreme or long-term smoking, becoming unable to process oxygen. The cilia of the lungs, which are small, hair-like elements that act as filters by sweeping contaminants out of the lungs, become disabled by the accumulation of tar and other elements of smoke.

    Short-Term Effects

    • According to the American Cancer Society, the debilitated function of the lungs will cause shortness of breath at first. This results in a decrease in the supply of oxygen, which is a vital element of all functions of the body. This decrease will cause the body to increase its efforts to obtain and process oxygen. The result is often an increase in blood pressure, as the heart attempts to increase the availability of oxygen to the various systems of the body, which can also result in hyperventilation and obstruction of the lungs' blood flow.

    Long-Term Effects

    • Regular smoking, even within a few years, can present the onset of more serious breathing problems. According to the American Cancer Society, emphysema, which is a gradual breakdown of the alveoli, is often a result of smoking. This disease reduces the capacity of the lungs to take in oxygen. Chronic bronchitis can also be a result of long-term smoking. Continuous inhalation of tobacco smoke irritates the lining of the lungs, which produces mucus as a protective measure. The mucus becomes an obstacle in the lungs, causing further debilitated breathing functions.

    Lung Cancer

    • According to Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, who is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist, the incidence rate of lung cancer due to smoking is considered to be as much as 90 percent. There are an estimated 4,000 chemical compounds associated with tobacco smoke, many of which have been shown to be carcinogenic in nature. Of these, the two chemical compounds that are seen as the most carcinogenic are nitrosamines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The continued use of tobacco smoke increases the damage that these carcinogens do to cellular structure, increasing the risk for lung cancer.

    Passive Smoking Effects on Breathing

    • Passive smoke, otherwise known as second-hand smoke, has also been shown to be detrimental on breathing. The inhalation of passive smoke can cause many of the same side effects that are found in smokers, such as affected lung capacity and coughing. Long-term exposure to passive smoke is also thought to increase the chances of lung cancer among non-smokers. Additionally, those who have asthma are significantly impacted by the effects of inhaling passive smoke.

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