Smoking causes 85% of lung cancers, and there is no going back after damaging your lungs once. In order to understand the damage caused by smoking, we first need to understand what cigarettes do to our lungs and how long it takes to damage our lungs completely. After the lung damage or if an individual is experiencing some effects of smoking, they need to see a lung expert as soon as possible, like Dr. Bhanushali Hospital and Centrer for Lung Surgery.
Nicotine Isn’t What Causes Lung Damage. Tar Is.
The addictive part of a cigarette is nicotine, which makes the user miserable. Those who get into all these addictions before the age of 25 get significant impact. These impacts are visible and can vary various functions of the brain like attention, learning, and reflexes. Individuals need to understand that nicotine obtained after smoking is far more addictive than any other nicotine.
When we are talking about effects on your lungs or lung damage caused by cigarettes, everyone stresses out. Individuals need to understand that nicotine has various effects on the body and can make you addictive, but nicotine does not involve any risk related to the lungs. The damage to the lungs is caused by tar. Tar is the black and sticky substance formed by the burning of cigarettes.
There are some 7,000 and 8,000 different chemicals presented in cigarettes. 70 of them can cause serious diseases like cancer and contain carcinogens that cause cancer. When an individual inhales the air filled with cigarette smoke, it means he/she creates a lining of thin air around your lungs. This lining of this fog is highly toxic. Smoking can leave a thin, tar-like coating on the surface, similar to the material used for paving streets. Each time you smoke, you accumulate more damage. This continuous buildup exacerbates the harm caused by smoking.
The Damage Caused By Cigarette And Smoking Is Permanent
There are tiny air sac-like structures, which are generally termed alveoli. These sac-like structures pull air from our surroundings and exhale all the unwanted part, which is carbon dioxide. Smoking kills these sac-like structures, which are responsible for alignment.
There are various parts in our body that can repair themselves, like if you break your bone, it regrows and repairs itself, or if you get a cut on your skin, there is no need to have anything skin itself has the capability to repair. Liver also do the same and regrow if some of the liver is removed due to damage. On the other hand, lungs are made up of complex tissues; these tissues don’t heal themselves. If there is damage to the tissues of the lungs, it’s permanent.
What Happened To Alveoli After Continuous Smoking
The alveoli, which are responsible for the inhaling and exhaling process, get more fibrous after the lung damage. These alveoli get more fibrous and create problems in expansion, which eventually create problems in inhaling. If you have fewer lung tissues in your lungs, there will be less expansion, which means there will be less oxygen in your body. The lack of enough oxygen creates severe problems like shortness of breath and various other breathing problems.
All these changes in the lungs take place slowly, and there are no visible or physical changes. Individuals have some millions of alveoli in their lungs, but after continuous smoking, only 15 to 20 years are enough to lose a significant amount of alveoli. After developing severe diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the damage is irreversible.
While treatment can manage symptoms, the condition cannot be cured. In severe cases, patients may rely on oxygen therapy permanently, as the lung damage is permanent and progressive. Everyday activities can become increasingly challenging over time.
Conclusion
Smoking permanently damages the lungs, primarily through tar and other toxic chemicals, not nicotine. This damage also leads to the destruction of alveoli and the development of COPD, which is permanent and progressive, leading to severe breathing problems and potentially requiring lifelong oxygen therapy. Early intervention with a lung specialist is crucial. If you are looking for a lung surgeon in Thane, consider Dr. Bhanushali Hospital and Centre for Lung Surgery, which is one of the best hospitals in Thane.