Chronic bronchitis is an ongoing condition in which the bronchial tubes become swollen and irritated, narrowing the pathway to the lungs. This makes it increasingly difficult for the lungs to take in enough oxygen. People with bronchitis experience coughing spells and have difficulty catching their breath. Emphysema is a disease that causes the lungs to lose elasticity, permanently enlarging the airways. Emphysema destroys the alveoli, or sacs of air, that make up lung tissue. The destruction of alveoli makes breathing difficult. As a result, a person has to breathe faster to get enough oxygen into the lungs and bloodstream. Asthma is a chronic disease caused by blockages of airflow to and from the lungs. Inhaling cigarette smoke irritates the lining of the airways, which can cause an asthma attack. Because cigarette smoke damages the cilia, the lungs cannot eliminate unwanted particles. These particles stay in the airways and continue to trigger asthma attacks. chronic bronchitis condition in which the bronchial tubes become swollen and irritated, narrowing the pathway to the lungs emphysema condition that causes the lungs to lose elasticity permanently enlarges airways and destroys the alveoli in lung tissue asthma chronic condition in which airways constrict and fill with mucus blocks airflow to and from the lungs Case Study “Just” a Vape While Dwayne is in the hospital with pneumonia, his doctor tells him that a likely factor for his illness is his daily vaping habit. She warns him of the harmful effects on his respiratory system. Dwayne is stunned—he did not realize vaping was harmful to his health. He grew up knowing that cigarettes were dangerous he has seen pictures of damaged smokers’ Practice Your Skills Make Decisions Consider the stories of Dwayne, Ximena, and Audrey. Are they making healthy decisions? What, if anything, can they do to be healthier? Rewrite each person’s story to include a healthier decision and include any necessary knowledge or refusal skills each person would need to make these decisions. Share your new stories with a partner and discuss how a few small decisions can affect your health. Then, write a story about your own personal experience with tobacco. If you could go back in time in your story, what decisions would you make? lungs in his health classes. Vaping seemed safe, especially since he was using nicotine-free vape. Ximena has loved playing basketball since she was a kid. Lately, however, she has coughing fits during practice and gets out of breath more quickly. Ximena does not vape, but she sits with her friends while they do. She knows that is probably what is causing her coughing fits. Ximena does not want to spend less time with her friends, but she worries about not making the varsity team next year if she does not get away from the aerosol. Audrey is around people who use tobacco all the time. Her mom smokes cigarettes, and her older brother vapes. One day, a boy at school offers Audrey a vape. Audrey thinks to herself that one time cannot hurt. Audrey remembers her mother’s stained yellow teeth and fingers and her brother’s worsening asthma and smelly clothes. Audrey shakes her head, gives the vape back, and says, “No, thanks. I’ve seen what smoking has done to my family and I don’t want to start.” Silarock/Shutterstock.com Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 370 Unit 4 Avoiding Hazardous Substances