Question

A 47-year-old female with a 20 year history of chain smoking often complains of a chronic cough. How was smoking changed her respiratory system causing this chronic smoker's cough?

Answer 1

Smoking causes damage to the respiratory system by paralyzing cilia and increasing mucus production, leading to a chronic smoker's cough and other serious conditions like COPD.

Step-by-step explanation:

Effects of Smoking on the Respiratory System

The 47-year-old female with a chronic cough is experiencing the adverse effects of long-term smoking. Cigarettes contain harmful substances like tar, which destroy or paralyze the cilia, small hair-like structures in the respiratory tract responsible for moving mucus and particulate matter out of the lungs. Over time, smoking prompts the lungs to produce more mucus, but because the cilia are damaged, they cannot effectively clear it. This excessive build-up necessitates coughing as a means to clear the mucus, resulting in a chronic smoker's cough.

Furthermore, smoking leads to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a condition where lung damage reduces elasticity in the alveoli and causes inflammation, further worsening cough and congestion. These are just some of the detailed effects smoking has on the respiratory system, which highlight the importance of avoiding or quitting smoking to prevent long-term damage and chronic respiratory conditions.