How does tobacco affect the respiratory system? Breathing is disrupted by each smoked cigarette. This is because smoking destroys cilia, tiny brush-like structures that line our airways and keep the lungs clear. This leads to “smokers’ cough.82
Asthma is a very common cause of chronic cough in elders which obstructs airflow resulting in wheezing and coughing. Studies suggest that youth who smoke may be more likely to develop asthma. Moreover, secondhand smoke can cause an asthma attack in both adults and children.82
Chemicals in cigarette smoke retard lung growth. Adults who smoked when they were young have lungs that never grow to their normal size and this increases the risk of COPD later in life.82
You will breathe better If you quit smoking and you will cough less than people who continue to smoke. Even after the age of 65, quitting tobacco can add years to your life.82
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