Cause and Effect Essay
Cigarette Smoking and the Secondhand Smoking Disease, Emphysema Gregory A. Smith, Jr. University of Phoenix COMM/105 Dr. R. LoDato March 24, 2010
Cigarette smoking is a worldwide problem. Studies show that one in three adult’s smoke, with more than one billion people smoking worldwide. The number of non- smokers, are far greater; however, the hazardous risks from inhaling the harmful chemicals released from cigarette smoke, seems to somehow outweigh the risks of the smoker’s themselves. 3,000 non- smoking adults die of diseases caused by exposure to second- hand smoke each year. One of the main culprits is Emphysema. Emphysema can be described as an abnormal condition of the lungs, with a noticeable decrease of respiratory function. It can also be associated with smoking or chronic bronchitis or old age. Cigarette smoke is the leading cause of emphysema. When inhaling tobacco smoke, it temporarily paralyzes the microscopic hairs that line bronchial air ways. These hairs sweep irritants and germs out of a person’s airways, but when smoke interferes with this sweeping movement, from the paralysis, irritants remain in a person’s bronchial tubes Emphysema is a progressive disease of the lungs that can cause shortness of breath. The physical shapes of the lungs are destroyed in people with emphysema. There can be several types of emphysema; although they can all be life threatening, not all of them come from cigarette smoke. Subcutaneous Emphysema – Is a disorder in which bubbles of air become trapped under the skin. This type of emphysema can occur after surgery and can also develop in cases of gas gangrene. The most frequent cause of subcutaneous emphysema develops from rupture of the lung tissue.
Cigarette smoking is a worldwide problem. Studies show that one in three adult’s smoke, with more than one billion people smoking worldwide. The number of non- smokers, are far greater; however, the hazardous risks from inhaling the harmful chemicals released from cigarette smoke, seems to somehow outweigh the risks of the smoker’s themselves. 3,000 non- smoking adults die of diseases caused by exposure to second- hand smoke each year. One of the main culprits is Emphysema. Emphysema can be described as an abnormal condition of the lungs, with a noticeable decrease of respiratory function. It can also be associated with smoking or chronic bronchitis or old age. Cigarette smoke is the leading cause of emphysema. When inhaling tobacco smoke, it temporarily paralyzes the microscopic hairs that line bronchial air ways. These hairs sweep irritants and germs out of a person’s airways, but when smoke interferes with this sweeping movement, from the paralysis, irritants remain in a person’s bronchial tubes Emphysema is a progressive disease of the lungs that can cause shortness of breath. The physical shapes of the lungs are destroyed in people with emphysema. There can be several types of emphysema; although they can all be life threatening, not all of them come from cigarette smoke. Subcutaneous Emphysema – Is a disorder in which bubbles of air become trapped under the skin. This type of emphysema can occur after surgery and can also develop in cases of gas gangrene. The most frequent cause of subcutaneous emphysema develops from rupture of the lung tissue.
References: wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/emphysema