Describe effects of tar and carcinogens in smoke on the respiratory system

In general tar and carcinogens damage the respiratory system whereas the carbon monoxide
and the nicotine damage the cardiovascular system

Tar and how it causes chronic bronchitis (the damage and obstruction of the airways)
Tar stimulates the goblet cells to produce excessive mucus
It also damages the cilia
As a result, the mucus with the bacteria and the pathogens gets accumulated in the bronchioles,
obstructing them
With time, the damaged epithelium will be replaced with scar tissue and the smooth muscle in
the bronchioles gets thicker
Which makes it harder to breathe
Signs and symptoms of chronic bronchitis
Smokers Cough
Sputum production
Chest pain
Sore throat

Emphysema (gradual breakdown of the alveoli, decreasing the surface area for gas exchange)
The inflammation of constantly infected lungs causes the phagocytes to line the airways
Once there, they release the enzyme elastase (which breaks down elastin in the alveoli walls ) so
that they can reach the surface and remove the bacteria
With reduced elastin, the alveoli cant recoil and stretch as effectively during ventilation as a
result the bronchioles collapse, trapping air in the alveoli which often burst
This reduces the surface area for gas exchange, less oxygen is absorbed into the blood
Signs and symptoms of emphysema
Faster breathing rate
Wheezing
Breathlessness
Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema often occur together




Lung cancer
Lung cancer will take 20-30 years to develop
Tar contains a lot of carcinogens, these react with the DNA in the epithelial cells producing
mutations which leads to tumour
As the cancer develops, it spreads to the bronchioles and enters the lymphatic system
Cells will break away and spread to other organs (metastasis), now we have secondary tumors
If there are secondary tumors formed throughout the body, surgery to remove these will not help
recover the patient.
Signs and sympotom s of lung cancer
Coughing up blood
Chest pain
Difficulty to breathe
Pneumonia
Breathlessness



Effects of nicotine and carbon monoxide on the respiratory system
Nicotin e
Drug
Absorbed readily in the blood
Stimulates the nervous sytem to reduce diameter of arterioles
Stimulates the releases of adrenaline from the adrenal glands
As a result, heart rate and blood pressure increases and there is a decrease of blood supply to
the hands and feet
Increases the risk of thrombus (blood clotting)
Stimulates release of dopamine (which reinforces pleasurable experiences) hence nicotine is
very addictive
Also effects hormone production, lowers oestrogen
Carbon monoxide
Combines irreversibly with heamoglobin to form carboxyheamoglobin
This causes the haemoglobin not to be fully oxygenated
Oxygen transported is 5-10% less in smokers, which increases heart rate
Tobacco smokes contribute to atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is accumulation of fatty materials, dead tissues (atheroma)
The atheromatous streaks in a normal artery can start at any time from childhood
They start as a result of damage to the lining by tobacco smoke or high blood pressure
In response to this, phagocytes stimulate the gowth of smooth muscle cells and cholesterol
the cholesterol-rich atheroma forms plaques which becomes rough, hardened and making the
arteries less elastic and restricitn blood flow
as the plaques enlarges , it causes the lumen to narrow reducing blood flow and increasing heart
rate
the plaque may break through the artery lining giving it a rough surface,
the blood will no longer flow smoothly, causing it to form thrombus (blood clot)
the thrombosis affects the blood flow even more, causing the tissue to starve of nutrient,
oxygen
if this happens in a coronary artery, heart muscle dies, heart attack (myocardial infarction)
if this happens in the brain, its a stroke

Stroke
when an artery in the brain bursts, blood leaks into brain tissue (brain haemorrhage)
or when an artery in the brain is blocked because of atherosclerosis
the brain tissue straves and dies (cerebral infarction)
because of stroke,people will tend to lose their ability to speak or memeory , personalities can
change, paralysis


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4scoronary heart disease
2 arteries branch from the aorta to supply the muscles of atria and ventricles of the heart
CHD is the disease of these two arteries
With atherosclerosis, the heart has to work a lot harder to supply oxygen during exercise
the main cause of CHD is atherosclerosis (reduced blood supply to the heart)

three forms of CHD

Angina Pectoris less severe sympotom of CHD
Its main symptom is chest pain, the pain starts whilst exercising, and disappears when resting,
the pain is caused by severe shortage of blood to the heart muscle however the heart muscle
downs not die
MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION- heart attack , when a moderately large branch of the coronary
artery is obstructed, the heart muscles starves and dies, this casues a servere and sudden pain
which is the heart attack
Heart failure blockage of a main coronary artery hence the heart gradually weakens and stops
pumping efficiently