Assume that you are a second year nursing student. You have been assigned a patient and...

Assume that you are a second year nursing student. You have been assigned a patient and asked to explain how a history of heavy smoking might interfere with a patient's gas exchange.

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Expert Solution

Smoking is just a bad habit. It has no positive effects on the organism, but can contribute to development of a number of dangerous and life-threatening respiratory system diseases.Tobacco contains a substance known as nicotine, and a certain amount of tar. Nicotine is a highly toxic substance which gradually kills cells. A substance known as benzopyrene is found in the tar. It is a known lung cancer trigger. Particles of tar stick to the sensitive passageways and surface of alveoli and block gas exchange.

the toxins from inhaled cigarette smoke break the thin walls of alveoli, leaving larger, less efficient air sacs. The sacs also begin to lose their bounce, making it harder to bring in the oxygen and expel carbon dioxide.

Smoking causes bronchoconstriction, increased airway resistance, increased closing volumes and interfers with gas exchange.

Heavy smoking causes destruction of the alveolar sacs and walls. Gas exchange happens between the sacs and the capillary beds in the lungs. If there is destruction and hardening of the alveolar sacs they are unable to exchange as much gas as they are meant to. In the early stages- heavy smoking can also cause an inflammatory response which also doesn't allow sufficient gas exchange.

It also increases the size of the air sacs; which decreases the number of air sacs; which decreases surface area for gas exchange.

Nightingale answered 1 year ago

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