Health, Chapter 16 "Tobacco", Section 3: Risks of Tobacco Use pp. 410-416

Respiratory Diseases: What kind of respiratory problems are associated with long-term tobacco use?

"Smoker's cough" is the result of damage caused by tar. Tar sticks to the cilia, hairlike extensions that line the respiratory tract (vía respiratoria). The cilia normally move in a sweeping motion (movimiento de barrer) & push mucus and particles away from lungs & towards throat in order to be swallowed (alejan los mocos y las partículas de los pulmones y hacia la garganta para ser tragados).

Cardiovascular disease & smoking facts

A smoker is 2-3 times more likely to have a heart attack than a smoker (see previous cardiovascular disease slide). Smoking cigarettes doubles a person's chance of suffering a stroke (embolia); smokers are 10 times more likely to develop circulation problems in blood vessels that bring blood to stomach, kidneys (riñones), legs & feet

What percent of oral cancers occur in people who use, or have used, tobacco?

About 90%. Oral cancers include cancers of the mouth, tongue, & throat (garganta). Survival rate is higher than lung cancer, but surgery to remove cancer can disfigure the patient.

Tobacco use is a major factor in the development of what other disease?

Cancer, specifically lung cancer and oral cancers as well as several other cancers.

What is cardiovascular disease & how many deaths of smokers is it responsible for in the U.S. every year?

Cardiovascular diseases are diseases of the heart & blood vessels (vasos sanguíneos). They kill about 138,000 smokers in the U.S. every year.

Who is especially vulnerable to secondhand smoke?

Children are especially vulnerable to secondhand smoke. They are more likely to develop allergies & asthma. Inhaled secondhand smoke can cause recurring, long-lasting ear infections (a main cause of hearing loss). Each year, it contributes to ~300,000 respiratory infections in kids under 18 months.

What happens in chronic bronchitis?

The airways are constantly inflamed. The mucus-producing cells increase in size & number, producing more & more mucus. Constricted airways & overproductions of mucus make breathing difficult.

How does tobacco use contribute to cardiovascular disease?

The combined effects of nicotine, tar, & carbon monoxide force the cardiovascular system to work harder to deliver oxygen throughout the body. Tobacco use also raises blood pressure, which, over time (con el tiempo), weakens (debilita) blood vessels & puts stress on organs.

What happens after cilia are paralyzed by tar?

Then, dust (polvo), tobacco smoke toxins (toxinas del humo de tabaco) & mucus accumulate in the airways (vías respiratorias). Coughing is the body trying to clear the airways.

Besides the cilia, what else do tobacco smoke & accumulating toxins impact?

They impact the bronchi, the tubes that carry air between the trachea and the lungs. The bronchi become inflamed (inflamados), which restricts (el cual restringe) the amount of air that can enter & leave the lungs.

What is secondhand smoke?

combination of mainstream and sidestream smoke involuntarily (de manera no intencional) inhaled by others

What is sidestream smoke?

the smoke from the burning end of a cigarette, pipe, or cigar

What can you do to avoid secondhand smoke?

Ask smokers not to smoke around you. Be firm when informing guests about the no-smoking rules in your own home or car (it's your property! your space!). ...In restaurants, if there are smoking areas, always choose to sit in the non-smoking section.

What are two types of COPD?

Chronic bronchitis & emphysema are two types of COPD.

What do chemicals in tobacco smoke also cause?

Increased blood cholesterol levels & atherosclerosis--- the thickening & hardening of artery walls. When arteries become hard & stiff (tiesas), it interferes with the delivery of oxygen to the body. Nicotine increases blood's tendency to clot (coagularse) & clots may block blood flow, causing heart attack or stroke.

What are carcinogens?

Ingredients or substances that cause cancer.

What is mainstream smoke?

It is the smoke exhaled from the lungs of a smoker (the cigarette filter & the smoker's lungs catch/trap a lot of substances prior to exhaling).

Is it easier or more difficult to avoid secondhand smoke today?

It's easier because federal, state and local laws now prohibit or restrict smoking in public places & workplaces. Breathing clean air is a serious issue (cuestión) for everyone.

What are the dangers of secondhand smoke?

Long-term exposure (Being exposed over a long period of time) can cause cardiovascular disease, many respiratory problems & cancer. It increases the risk of a sudden heart attack (paro cardíaco repentino) by 30%. Secondhand smoke causes ~400,000 deaths per year from heart attacks & lung cancer.

What is the leading cause of cancer death for both men & women? What percent of these cancer patients survive for more than 5 years after diagnosis?

Lung cancer is. (Scientists estimate that more than 85 percent of all deaths caused by lung cancer are connected to smoking.) Only 15 percent of lung cancer patients survive for more than 5 years after diagnosis.

Are there any other negative effects to smoking that pregnant mothers should consider?

Nursing mothers who smoke produce less milk than nonsmoking mothers. The nicotine in their milk can cause vomiting & diarrhea in nursing babies (bebés lactantes).

What percentage of all COPD deaths is cigarette smoking responsible for? What do treatments for COPD consist of (¿En qué consisten los tratamientos para la COPD?)

Quitting smoking (Dejar de fumar) will stop things from getting worse. Treatments focus on relieving (aliviar) symptoms & slowing the progress of the disease. Doctors prescribe medications that open airways, breathing exercises, & even (hasta) lung transplants!

If a person continues to smoke over a long period of time i.e., long-term (a largo plazo), the damage to the respiratory system becomes permanent. What disease might this person develop (desarrollar)?

She or he may develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], a disease that results in loss of lung function.

What is the leading cause of preventable death (que se puede evitar) in the U.S.?

Tobacco use. Cigarette smoking is directly responsible for the deaths of over 400,000 Americans each year. Many more die from cigar, pipe & smokeless tobacco use.

What is leukoplakia?

White patches that develop on the tongue or the lining of mouths. The sores (llagas) can become cancerous so they should be monitored by a doctor.

What happens in emphysema?

With emphysema, the alveoli in the lungs lose shape (forma) & elasticity. Less oxygen can get in & less carbon dioxide can get out. Eventually, the walls start to break down (descomponerse), reducing the area where gas exchange can occur. Consequently, people with emphysema are always short of breath.

Do pregnant women who smoke put their babies at risk (ponen sus bebés en peligro)? Why or why not?

Yes; many harmful chemicals (químicas dañinas) pass from mother to baby via the bloodstream (corriente sanguínea). Tobacco smoke increases baby's heart rate, reduces baby's oxygen & slows growth of cells. Babies born to smoking mothers weigh 6 oz. less on average than babies of non-smoking mothers. (See other effects on slide) SIDS=Sudden Infant Death Syndrome