Biology Unit 4 IP Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Biology Unit 4 IP - Research Paper Example Moreover, alveoli are destroyed due to the destruction of gas exchange surface area and airway flexibility. Furthermore, vascular changes take place in the small arteries and capillaries of the alveoli and bronchioles. Additionally, the cells of the bronchial tree undergo inflammation, which results in squamous metaplasia, fibrosis and hypertrophy of smooth muscle (Robinson & Scullion, 2009, p. 545). Air that has been infused with oxygen is drawn into the lungs during the inhalation stage of respiration, and then it reaches the alveoli. At that place, blood with high carbon dioxide content, which has coursed through the body comes into contact with the oxygen enriched air. This takes place in the capillaries that enclose each alveolus. At that place, oxygen in the air is exchanged with the carbon dioxide in the blood (Brannon & Feist, 2009, p. 309). Smoking causes emphysema, which damages the alveoli to the extent that the surface area for the aforementioned exchange of oxygen from the inhaled air and the carbon dioxide in the blood that has circulated through the body, is substantially reduced. Moreover, this damage prevents the flow of sufficient blood to the unaffected alveoli. The outcome is an impaired respiratory mechanism, which in turn increases the carbon dioxide levels in the blood (Brannon & Feist, 2009, p. 311). The risk of pneumonia and other acute respiratory ailments are significantly enhanced by smoking (Duaso & Duncan, 2012, p. 356). Smoking has been identified as the single most important cause for cardiovascular disease. It is now well established that smoking significantly increases the risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm, atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, and stroke (Duaso & Duncan, 2012, p. 358). The most common association of cigarette smoking is lung cancer, and as much as 90% of the incidence of lung cancer has been correlated to smoking. In addition, evidence