Smoking Effects on COPD You Must Know
Smoking is highly correlated with a myriad of diseases such as skin cancer, lung cancer, and many other diseases. In addition, this habit is also notoriously known for causing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.This is a progressive disease that worsens with time and affects a very high number of smokers (close to 95% of them). It arises due to the incorrect functioning of the lungs.
Basically, COPD is a group of diseases and symptoms that hinder the correct flow of air thus causing breathing-related problems. As a result, the lungs lack tractability to take air in and out of the air sacks. Another symptom of the disease is that it creates more mucus in the airways causing a blockage.
Symptoms associated with COPD
There are many severe symptoms of this disease which require immediate medical attention. Failure to do so may lead to an escalation of the problem. One of the main symptoms of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a lot of mucus in the air passageway. This symptom causes shortness of breath and persistent coughing. Some people may also experience a wheezing sound when breathing and a general lack of energy as well. A predisposition to clear your throat regularly might also be an indicator that you have this disease. On the other hand, a person with this disease may experience severe chest pains, coughing of blood and experience severe tiredness.
Some serious symptoms of the disease include trouble in talking, a severe need of oxygen in such a manner that the person develops blue lips. An increased heart rate is also very fatal because it may lead to a heart attack or even unembellished weight loss.Scientific research has shown that you don’t have to be an active smoker to acquire these problems. Inhaling smoke when others are smoking basically known as second-hand smoking may as well elicit COPD related symptoms.
It has been confirmed that the symptoms of COPD keep on getting worse over time and makes daily activities very difficult to perform. However, good treatment can slow down the progression of the infection. Medical practitioners advise that the best way to stop the symptoms of this disease from making headway is by avoiding smoking and other risk factors associated with the disease. While there is no cure for COPD currently, if treatment starts at an early stage, you can minimize the chance of severe lung damage.
COPD and Vaping
As we have discussed above, COPD is a progressive illness with cigarette smoking being its leading cause. Research has shown that many people who live with the early stages of the diseases do not realize until the symptoms become severe.In the United States alone, around 30 million people are suspected to be living with Chronic Obstruction Pulmonary Disease.
Essentially, vaping is an electronic form of smokeless cigarette which has also been linked with initiating COPD related symptoms. Although vaping does not involve direct smoking, it includes inhaling water vapor and other mixtures of foreign chemicals in the body. The liquid in these vapors contains high contents of nicotine which is also inhaled by non-smokers whenever released into the atmosphere.
Many people prefer using slickvapes best wax pens with a wide variety of them being hookah pens, ape pens, and e-pipes. Although many wax pens users generally consider them harmless, research has shown that they are a leading cause of most respiratory diseases.
On the other hand, although research has not been sufficient to show a direct cause and effect of vaping and COPD, some studies have confirmed that the vapor inhaled contains toxic chemicals, carcinogens, and toxic metal nanoparticles.
The research conducted has not been sufficient and have been at times at loggerheads with one another. On study in the year, 2016 concluded that vaping fluids contain nicotine which is responsible for the development of COPD.They clearly stated that the vapor caused lung inflammation and severe damage to major lung tissues.
Contrastingly, another commentary on vaping products stated that they are far much less harmful than conventional smoking. He also stated that the e-vaping could be a resourceful practice in drawing back the effects and harm of smoking tobacco. He, however, admitted that vaping products contain nicotine which is a very addictive chemical made from tobacco.
Other risk factors that trigger COPD
Although smoking has been accredited as the leading cause of Chronic Obstruction Pulmonary Disease, there are some other risk factors that you should too avoid. These factors lead to further acceleration of COPD, especially for cigarette smokers.Exposure of lungs irritating products and pollutants for a long period of time may accelerate the development of COPD.
These pollutants include second-hand smoking for a long period of time. You should, therefore, avoid staying close to people who smoke regularly.Another risk factor may exposure to chemical fumes and fuels. In addition, some people may also acquire the disease through the dust and general air pollution. Research and experience have indicated that people also acquire COPD from genetic factor without the involvement of the above-stated risk factors such as smoking. Such factors include deficiency of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD).
In any case, you have been experiencing the above-stated symptoms; it is now a good time to visit a medical practitioner. As it was stated earlier, CPOD does not have a cure; however, a visit to a qualified medical practitioner ought to help in easing the symptoms. A doctor performs a Spirometry test in order to assess the functioning of the pulmonary system. This test is quick, painless and helps in identifying the symptoms of COPD at a very early stage.
Quitting smoking is the best method that can be used to slow down the progression of COPD. Although this has been a very difficult thing to implement, a firm resolution and action plan can be very effective. Avoid at all costs staying with people and places that are prone to smoking.
Research has confirmed that smoking and tobacco inhaling is a leading trigger of COPD. However, further research has to be conducted to determine the relationship between vaping and the disease.
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