|
Quit Smoking
Articles
Damaged
Lung Photos
Warning:
Photos on this page may be graphic and disturbing
The photo on the left shows a normal city dweller's lung. The black
spots noted are carbon deposits caused by pollution.
The photo on the right belongs to an 80 year old non-smoke. It
still appears pink and aerated.
But if you continue to smoke.....
The photo on the left is a smoker's lung with lung cancer. The
white areas at the top part of the lung is cancer, while the blackened
area that covers the rest of the lung are tar deposits.
The photo on the right is a lung with emphysema. Not only is the
lung discolored, but it is out of shape causing breathing to be
extremely difficult.
Cross-sectional photos
The photo above shows a cross-section of a normal lung. The surface
of the cross-section looks smooth and the color is still normal.
However,
The cross-sectional lung photo above shows dilated airspaces
indicating emphysema. There are also scarring from superimposed
infections. Just imagine having to live with a part of yourself
looking like that. Horrendous.
If you want to feel what its like to have emphysema, try taking a deep breath and hold it. Without letting out any air,
take another deep breath. Hold that one too. One more time, take one
more breath. Okay let it all out.
That second or third breath is what it feels like to breathe when
you have advanced emphysema. Emphysema is a disease where you cannot
exhale air. Everyone thinks that it is a disease where you cannot
inhale but in fact it is the opposite. When you smoke you destroy the
lungs elasticity by destroying the tissue that pulls your lung back
together after using muscles that allow us to inhale air. So when it
comes time to take your next breath it is that much more difficult,
for your lungs could not get back to their original shape.
Imagine to live
struggling each breath like those last two breaths.
Unfortunately, millions of people don't have to imagine it, they live
it daily. It is a truly miserable way to live and a slow painful way to die.
But its still not too late! The moment you quit smoking, your lungs
begin repairing all the damages immediately. Your risks of lung cancers and
other cancers drop significantly, even if the cells are already in a
pre-cancerous state. Your risk of developing smoking related diseases
such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis also declines at once.
Save your lungs.
Make quit
smoking your choice today.
Main>>
|
