Emphysema and smoking

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1. Smoking and the initiation of emphysema.

Most damage to the elastic fibers and other supporting structures in in the lung air sacs and small airways results from inflammation caused by tobacco smoke and other air-borne irritants. The process begins when tobacco smoke temporarily paralyzes the microscopic hairs (cilia) that line your bronchial tubes. Normally, these hairs sweep irritants and germs out of your airways. But when smoke interferes with this sweeping movement, irritants remain in your ...