Final answer:
Emphysema is caused by the breakdown of alveoli due to cigarette smoking, resulting in reduced gas exchange, trapped air, chronic cough, and shortness of breath.
Step-by-step explanation:
Causes Related to Emphysematic Damage to Alveolar Tissue
Emphysema is a chronic lung disease characterized by damage to alveolar tissue. This damage is primarily caused by the inhalation of toxic chemicals from cigarette smoking, which leads to the destruction of the walls of the alveoli, reducing the area available for gas exchange.
This results in symptoms such as shortness of breath, chronic cough, and wheezing. Over time, the elasticity of the alveoli reduces, resulting in air being trapped in the lungs and the loss of the lung's ability to fully exhale.
Additionally, the chemical exposure from cigarette smoke leads to a reduction in lung capacity and the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is an incurable and often fatal condition.
In emphysema patients, the larger alveolar sacs have reduced surface tension, which impairs the lung's ability to expel air efficiently.
Substances like tar, carbon monoxide, cyanide, and acrolein found in cigarette smoke are responsible for much of the lung damage, as they reduce the elasticity of the alveoli and contribute to chronic inflammation, exacerbating the condition.
It is worth noting that emphysema is a type of COPD and that COPD can often be prevented by not smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke.