Question

Janet smoked cigarettes since she was sixteen. Now at age 45, she suffers from shortness of breath, coughing, fatigue, sleep and heart problems, weight loss, and depression. Her condition is caused by a chronic lung condition that affects the alveoli. Janet suffers from: (1 point)

Answer 1

LUNG CANCER I THINK

Answer 2

Or emphysema

Answer 3

most likely

Answer 4

The answer is emphysema.

Emphysema is a type of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder) that is mainly caused by smoking. Cigarette smokes damages an enzyme called elastase, which normally protects the elastin in the lungs and alveoli. During emphysema, the elastin becomes damaged, which causes the lungs and alveoli to have problems with recoiling. In other words, the lungs and alveoli will inflate but can not return back to their normal shape because the elastin is damaged. Air will then become trapped in the lungs and alveoli. This can then cause the alveoli to hyperinflate, which makes them very, very, large in size. They eventually end up popping and form what is called bullae. This makes it difficult for an individual to breathe.

Answer 5

Chronic bronchitis too