The impact of smoking is fatal to ppok, how bad is it?

Many agree that smoking is a bad habit. Even so, many are unable to leave this habit, even if they already have certain health conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is a serious lung disease that will gradually make it harder for sufferers to breathe. How dangerous is the impact of smoking on people with COPD?

What is the impact of smoking on COPD sufferers?

The main cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is tobacco smoke, both those who smoke actively and passively. WHO estimates that in 2005, there were 5.4 million people who died from tobacco use. Tobacco-related deaths are expected to increase to 8.3 million deaths per year by 2030.

The smoking habit is blamed for the death of 9 out of 10 people due to COPD. This disease most often occurs in people over the age of 40 who have a history of smoking, both active smoking and former smokers. This suggests that one of the effects of smoking is in fact contributing to health conditions such as COPD.

Although it is one of the effects of smoking, COPD can also be suffered by people who have never smoked. However, the percentage is much smaller. Only about one in six people with COPD have never smoked. The impact of smoking from childhood and adolescence can also slow down the growth and development of the lungs. This can increase the risk of developing COPD in adulthood.

How do smoking damage the lungs of COPD people?

The air you breathe travels down through the windpipe and reaches the bronchi (breathing). Bronchial tubes branch into smaller tubes called bronchioles, each of which ends in air sacs or bubbles known as alveoli.

Within these air sacs are small blood vessels, namely capillaries. When you inhale, oxygen will move to the air sacs towards the blood in the capillaries that are located on the alveolar wall. Simultaneously, carbon dioxide is transferred from the blood vessels to the air sacs. This process is called air exchange.

The body, or in this case the main role of the lungs, can exchange air because of the elasticity of the alveoli.

Now, smokers usually have lung damage that makes it difficult for the body to circulate and expel air in the airways. Some of the effects of smoking on COPD sufferers that contribute to lung damage include:

• Air sac stiffness (alveoli lose elasticity)
• Degradation of the walls between air pockets
• Thickening and inflammation of the walls of the airways
• Increased mucus production in the airways, leading to a build-up of mucus and clogging of the air entrances

Cigarette smoke contains harmful toxins that affect lung function. Poisons that are inhaled directly into the lungs for a long period of time can cause abnormally high levels of lung irritation. This is what causes COPD. With continued long-term exposure to secondhand smoke, the lungs experience more damage, including inflammation and damage to the pulmonary filtering system.

Unfortunately, COPD cannot be cured. If your lungs have been damaged, the damage will be permanent. The only effort you can do is prevent the damage from happening more through drugs, a healthy lifestyle, and stay away from the trigger factors.

Lifestyle changes to be healthier are ways that can be done to prevent widespread lung damage. Quitting smoking is the main way to get rid of the impact smoking has on a COPD sufferer if you smoke. Avoiding secondhand smoke can also help you to prevent your condition from worsening due to COPD.

How to prevent the impact of smoking on people with COPD?

Here are ways you can avoid the effects of smoking if you are a COPD sufferer:

1. Stop smoking

Quitting smoking is definitely the best thing you can do to protect your lungs and avoid the effects of smoking which can make COPD symptoms worse.

Quitting smoking is not only a treatment for COPD, but is a preventive measure so that the condition does not get worse. This can help you maintain general lung health, be more active, and enjoy life.

Announce to friends and family that you are going to quit smoking so they can also help supervise and remind you.

If you find it very difficult, consult your doctor about ways to quit smoking. The doctor may suggest several things, such as:

• Drugs
• Nicotine replacement therapy
• Support groups, counseling, or smoking cessation classes (face-to-face or online)

Of course this is not easy, but strong will will make you run it successfully. New drugs and programs can be very helpful. Calculating the cost you spend on smoking can also be a consideration for you to stop doing these bad habits.

2. Avoid cigarette smoke

The effect of smoke from people who smoke is to trigger more flare-ups aka worsening of symptoms in COPD sufferers and causing further damage to the lungs. So you have to avoid cigarette smoke.

Some of the ways that you can follow to prevent the effects of passive smoking include:

• Make your home and car a smoke free zone. Tell others to follow these rules. Remove ashtrays from your home.
• Choose smoke-free restaurants, bars, and workplaces (if possible).
• Avoid public places that allow smoking.

If you have smokers in your workplace, some tips for dealing with them are:

• Make sure that there are smoking areas that are suitable for smokers
• Ask coworkers who smoke to keep their jackets away from your work area, especially yours.
• Use a fan and leave windows open, if possible.
• Use other exits to avoid smokers outside the building.

When you do some of the things above, it's possible that people will find you annoying. For this reason, explaining your condition with COPD is a good step in order to create an understanding between you and your co-workers. That way, you can try to avoid the effects of smoking which can worsen your condition.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.