You’ve probably heard of this on multiple occasions – ‘smoking is injurious to health’. What you may not realise is the extent of the damage smoking can cause to your health, and most importantly, your lungs.

Smoking is known to be the leading cause of preventable diseases and deaths globally, and nearly all forms of lung cancer—the top cause of cancer death in both men and women can be attributed to the harmful effects of smoking. 

Keep Your Air Clean

Some might think, “how does smoking affect your lungs and cause harmful diseases?”, but they aren’t aware that a single puff of a cigarette contains upwards of 7,000 chemicals with 70 known carcinogenic chemicals. When you breathe the smoke in, these toxins go deep into your lungs and can cause swelling, resulting in a host of respiratory diseases.

The harmful effects of smoking cigarettes can damage lung tissue, preventing them from functioning properly. This can increase the risk of diseases, such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema, respiratory diseases, asthma, and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease).

Nicotine in tobacco can also damage the respiratory system’s ability to filter out dust and dirt. This can lead to toxic substances trying to pass through, resulting in lung congestion and the ‘smoker’s cough’.

But Nicotine Isn’t What Affects The Lungs. Tar Does.

There’s no question that nicotine creates addiction. And using products that contain this chemical can permanently alter parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control. The nicotine inhaled through smoking is even more addictive. 

How Does Smoking Affect Your Lungs In The Long Run

Your lungs contain around 500 million tiny air sacs called alveoli that pull oxygen from the air you breathe and release CO2 when you exhale. Smoking destroys the air sacs by killing the cells that line them.

Damage to alveoli gets worse over time, too. And as lung tissue is affected, it becomes hard & fibrous, making it painful to expand the lungs fully with each inhalation. Less lung tissue and less expansion mean lesser oxygen reaching all the places it’s needed. That’s why many people don’t realise the problem until they start feeling short of breath. 

Most smokers are also likely to develop emphysema. The number of cigarettes you smoke with other lifestyle factors impacts the extent of the damage. If you’re diagnosed with either of these respiratory diseases - emphysema or chronic bronchitis, you run the risk of being detected with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Beyond Lung Damage - Diseases Caused By Harmful Effects Of Smoking

Smoking can affect one's health in more ways than one, harming almost every organ in the body. In most situations, it can result in a compromised immune system making you susceptible to many other serious illnesses. It can also lead to brittle bones, which increases the risk of broken bones and fractures. Smoking also leaves you with an increased risk for cataracts. Moreover, even wounds take longer to heal!

It’s Never Too Late To Quit. 

There are several ways to quit smoking. Within days of quitting, the lungs begin to repair themselves. If you’re looking for ways to quit smoking, and need a nicotine-free alternative, you’re at the right place. 

We at Ripple+ offer solutions to help you find ways to quit smoking. By delivering the benefits of natural botanical blends, we can help you aid your oral fixation and take you one step away from addictive substances. 

Our plant-powered puffs will help you wean off nicotine products; from floral aromas such as Jasmine  or Peppermint to fruitier flavours such as Passionfruit or Mango. The perfect alternative for those who still want the feeling of toking but without the negatives.