What Is “Smoker’s Cough”?

Even with the great amount of information that we have available regarding cigarette smoking and its health consequences, especially now during the so-called age of information, there are still some aspects related to smoking which may have been left unclear, or not sufficiently clarified.

Like with anything else that is this deeply researched, many people may be overwhelmed by the massive amount of information available on the topic, or perhaps some things may be buried by the avalanche of other related information on the topic, and not learn or fully understand about certain things that are less talked about.

In this article, we will focus on answering a question that’s not as frequently asked, but still important to understand: What is “smoker’s cough”? In order to do so, though, we first need to take a look at what smoking does to our lungs and respiratory system as a whole.

What Smoking Does To The Lungs

Smoking has a very negative effect on the overall health of the lungs, and the respiratory system as a whole. In fact, smoking is a leading cause of death, in particular due to the vast amount of damage which it inflicts upon the respiratory system, causing millions of deaths yearly as a result.

There are six main ways in which the lungs are negatively impacted by cigarette smoking, and we will now talk about them:

1. Instant effects on the airways

Smoking has a number of immediate negative effects on the airways, which happen almost instantly every time tobacco smoke is inhaled. The two main immediate effects that smoking has on the airways of a smoker are the following:

• Inflammation and irritation - Inhaling tobacco smoke causes irritation, as well as irritation, of the tissue making up the airways. This leads to symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath and wheezing.

• An increase in mucus production - Inhaling tobacco smoke prompts the body to increase the production of mucus, in an effort to form some sort of “protective shield” from the harmful smoke being inhaled. This excess mucus makes it more difficult to breathe, as well as making the respiratory system more vulnerable to infections, viral and bacterial alike.

1. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder - Smoking cigarettes, and other tobacco products, is a leading cause of COPD, which is a group of lung diseases including emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

In chronic bronchitis, inflammation of the bronchial tubes and excessive mucus production lead to a persistent cough which doesn’t go away, as well as difficulty breathing.

Emphysema leads to the destruction of the alveoli, which are tiny sacs of air present in the lungs, through which gas exchanges occur. This hinders the body’s ability to take in oxygen and get rid of carbon dioxide, leading to severe respiratory issues.

1. Lung cancer - Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, a serious and often fatal condition, which has scarily low survival chances for the patient upon diagnosis.

Smokers are at a much higher risk of getting lung cancer than non-smokers, with the exact level of risk being influenced by the number of cigarettes smoked per day, as well as by the amount of time that an individual has been smoking tobacco for.

Lung cancer as a result of smoking is typically believed to be caused by carcinogenic substances found in cigarette smoke, such as formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, for example.

1. Respiratory infections - Smoking hinders the body’s ability to protect itself against infections, including infections in the lungs, and the respiratory system as a whole.

The tiny, hair-like structures which clear debris and mucus from the lungs, named cilia, end up being damaged by smoking, which in turn makes it easier for infections to bypass them and enter straight into the lungs, infecting them.

The immune system is also negatively impacted by smoking, making it even easier for pathogens to infect the body, including the lungs.

1. Reduced lung capacity and function - Due to a combination of the inflammation that smoking causes, as well as damage to lung tissue, leads to reduced lung function, which in turn also reduces lung capacity. This makes it harder for smokers to engage in physical activities.

Additionally, smoking also narrows the airways, which only make the issue described above worse.

1. Higher risk of other respiratory illnesses - Smoking increases the risk of developing asthma in individuals without it, and can worsen symptoms, severely so, in people already suffering from the condition.

Smoking can also lead to developing interstitial lung disease, which involves scarring of lung tissue, which significantly reduces lung function.

Now that we’ve taken a deeper look at how smoking affects the lungs, let’s answer the question posed in the article’s title.

What Is “Smoker’s Cough”?

The persistent cough that smokers typically suffer from, also known commonly as “smoker’s cough”, is a chronic productive cough, meaning that it causes the expectoration of mucus or phlegm. Repeated, sustained exposure to tobacco smoke through inhalation most often leads to developing this condition, and the specific possible causes behind it are numerous.

The irritation of the airway and lung tissue, in combination with the increased mucus production prompted by smoking, as well as swelling and inflammation in the respiratory system may all contribute to what is known as smoker’s cough, but not all of them are necessary to trigger this condition to appear in a smoker.

In addition to a persistent, productive cough, three other common symptoms of smoker’s cough include shortness of breath, wheezing when breathing or coughing, and pain or discomfort in the chest.

The most effective way to treat smoker’s cough is to quit smoking.

Conclusion

Cigarette smoking can lead to many negative health outcomes, some more serious than others. In the case of smoker’s cough, this can lower quality of life through its annoying effects, as well as put you at serious risk depending on the condition behind it, causing it (such as chronic bronchitis, for example).

It is important to know the dangers associated with smoking, and choose to quit to maintain good health. One should also avoid resorting to vaping as an alternative, as that can also be dangerous to one’s health.

I wish you the best of luck in achieving a healthier, safer lifestyle. Please take care.