Everyone knows that cancer and lung diseases pose the biggest threat on smokers’ health. Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of deaths among smoking individuals. Studies have shown though that it is also a risk factor for other types of cancer: cancer of the throat, cancer of the mouth, and cancer of the esophagus to name a few. On the other hand, lung diseases specifically pneumonia, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis have all been proven to be caused by smoking. They are known as chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) which can bring chronic illnesses and disability. The hard truth about these diseases is that as one contracts them and does not go for immediate treatment, they eventually worsen and may cause death.

Smokers are also prone to heart diseases, strokes and other blood vessel diseases. By smoking continuously, their chances of acquiring these fatal illnesses is up by 50% more compared to those who do not smoke at all. Smoking also affects the blood vessels that carry blood to the legs and arms which results to peripheral vascular diseases and blood vessels in the brain which is why strokes happen. For men who are chain smokers, they are likely to develop erectile dysfunction later on in their life.

A very important matter of concern for women smokers is that when they are pregnant, miscarriage can easily happen or lower birth-weight babies that can develop physical and mental abnormalities can be born due to their bad habit. If worse comes to worst, these babies could easily die. Women who also take birth control pills and smoke at the same time have higher risks of heart attacks and stroke.

If these facts don’t get you to quit smoking, then maybe results of studies made on years of life lost due to smoking will be reason enough to make you quit. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an adult male smoker loses an average of 13.2 years of life and that of an adult female smoker loses an average of 14.5 life years due to smoking! Just think of how much smoking can steal from you!

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The symptoms last for one or two weeks, but this period is longer and the Bronchitis becomes chronic in cigarette smokers. They manifest also inevitable winter flare -ups.

Using a microscope we can have the image of the cells in the healthy lungs. These cells looks tall, columnar and their surface is covered with cilia which are able to move creating the image of a wind blowing across a field of ripe corn. This surface covered with cilia is near the inside of the tube and it has the role to protect the lungs. This protection is possible because the movement of the cilia carry dust and other foreign materials upwards and away from the delicate air sacs from the lungs.

The ciliated cells can be damaged by different external irritants such as cigarette smoke, industrial pollutants and other chemical substances. So the effect of the movement of the cilia is not giving results anymore. As a consequence the glands produce a high quantity of mucus which can’t be evacuated and it is accumulated in the tubes. This is one of the causes of the persistent cough which characterizes Bronchitis. Usually this cough succeed to clear the mucus. Another way of protection of the lungs is the action of the Leucocytes whose principal role is to combat inflammatory processes.

Another sign of chronic bronchitis is the weezing. It is produced by the bronchospasm which is represented by the contraction of the circular muscles in the wall of the bronchial tubes.If this happenes the coughing becomes less efective too.

Bronchitis takes part of the disease grouped under COPD which means chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. If the disease doesn’t respond to treatment it can progress to COAD (chronic obstructive airway disease). In this case tiny lung air sacs break down to form larger air spaces. At the same time, because of this change, the surface area available for the transfer of the oxygen to the blood is much less. So the other organs are less oxygenated. the mucus block the smaller bronchial tubes which becomes inflamed.

In this circumstances smoking becomes more dangerous. Another disease which takes part of the category of COPD is Emphysema. Bronchitis and Emphysema lead to breathlessness. Anothe aspect is that it is restricted the quantity of the oxygen that reaches to the blood. This blood without enough oxygen is blue and it gives a bluish tinge to the skin. In medicine this color of the skin is called cyanosis. This is a very helpful sign for the diagnosis.

The heart is also affected in Bronchitis. The right heart enlarges. There is an extra pumping power because of the increase of the resistance to blood pumped through the lungs. The consequence is the oedema which is an exaggerated accumulation of liquid in the interstitial space.

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1) Antihistamines

Physicians usually prescribe antihistamines to patients who are showing signs of having “hay fever” (allergic rhinitis) and hives. Antihistamines work by preventing the effects of chemical substances called histamines that are released during an episode of an allergic reaction. With antihistamines, the symptoms of the allergy can be lessened. Some side effects of antihistamines include nightmares (in children), drowsiness, dry mouth, constipation and difficulty in urination.

2) Decongestants

Nasal congestion and other symptoms of allergies are the main targets of decongestants. They constrict the blood vessels, which in turn decrease the amount of fluid that goes into the nose’s lining which causes congestion. That’s why these medicines are called decongestants because they primarily work by preventing and stopping congestion in the nose. Some side effects of decongestants may include increased heart rate or blood pressure, sleeplessness, nervousness, and rebound rhinitis.

3) Bronchodilators
From the name itself, it can be obvious that these help dilate the muscles surrounding the airways, making breathing easier and manageable during asthma attacks. By relaxing the muscles of the airways, there will be improved airflow and the patient can have a more relaxed and smooth breathing pattern.

4) Metered-Dose Inhalers

These are hand-held devices that make use of propellants to deliver appropriately measured doses to the lungs of asthmatic patients. Also known as MDIs, these devices are very important to the health of asthmatics and are used to deliver different ingredients for a wide range of medical conditions. MDIs are held most important in the field of asthma and other respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

5) Metered-Dose Inhalers With Spacers

Spacers act as a “receiving” or “filtering” chamber that receives the aerosol before it will be inhaled by the patient. The spacers have two functions: to slow down the speed of the drug entering the mouth so that there will be less impact on the throat and to overcome any possible difficulties that are connected in the timing of the actuation and inhalation. In short, spacers are great for first-time users of metered dose inhalers as well as children.

6) Dry Powder Inhaler

A dry powder inhaler works quite similar with metered-dose inhalers. They are handheld devices that work by delivering an appropriate dose of asthma medication to the lungs of asthmatic patients. It is said that dry powder inhalers are easier to use since they are breath activated; meaning, one does not necessarily have to activate the inhaler (by spraying it) and then inhale it at the same time. Dry powder inhalers simply work as the patient breathes in quickly or sucks the medication in.

7) Small Volume Nebulizer

A small-volume nebulizer is a device that is used to treat and control asthma attacks. These devices turn asthma medications into a fine mist with the use of a small air compressor. The medicine is turned into a mist and inhaled deeply into the airways and lungs of asthmatic patients. The inhalation of the “mist” usually takes about 10 to 20 minutes to finish.

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