Final answer:
Substance abuse can impact breathing by triggering or worsening asthma symptoms, causing emphysema, and leading to hyperventilation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Substance abuse can have several impacts on breathing, including asthma, emphysema, and hyperventilation.
1. Asthma: Substance abuse can trigger or worsen asthma symptoms. Certain substances can irritate the airways, leading to wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath.
2. Emphysema: Prolonged substance abuse, such as smoking cigarettes or using drugs like cocaine, can damage the lungs and lead to emphysema. Emphysema is a chronic respiratory condition characterized by damaged air sacs in the lungs, resulting in difficulty breathing.
3. Hyperventilation: Some substances can cause an individual to breathe rapidly and excessively, leading to hyperventilation. This can disrupt the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body, causing symptoms like lightheadedness, tingling sensations, and shortness of breath.
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