Introduction

Respiratory Diseases, what does smoking or vaping (using electronic cigarettes) have to do with it?

In 1964, the Surgeon General released the first warning that cigarette smoking was linked to lung cancer. A 2015 Surgeon General report on smoking showed tobacco use as the single largest preventable cause of death and disease in the United States. Cigarette smoking kills more than 480,000 Americans each year, with more than 41,000 of these deaths from exposure to secondhand smoke. In 2003, the e-cigarette was developed as an alternative to cigarettes. While there have not been as many deaths, vaping also has not been around as long. The e-cigarette was invented in 2003. According to John Hopkins, "Vaping is less harmful than smoking, but it is still not safe." Visit 5 Vaping Facts You Need to Know to find out more.

In this lesson, you will learn about some common respiratory diseases. Although not all respiratory diseases are caused by cigarette smoke or vaping, many mentioned in this lesson can be linked to it.

Lesson Objectives

Following successful completion of this lesson, students will be able to...

  • Compare the physiological processes and causes of chronic bronchitis, emphysema, COPD, asthma, tuberculosis, and lung cancer.
  • Analyze how a genetic inheritance can result in a pathological condition of the respiratory system.

Essential Questions

  • What organs of the respiratory system move air in and out for gas exchange?
  • How does the respiratory system maintain homeostatic levels of gases and blood pH within the body?
  • How can environmental/Genetic factors can affect the respiratory system leading to pathological conditions?

Enduring Understandings

  • Human anatomy is the study of the organizational structure of the human body from cell to organism.
  • Human physiology is the study of the organizational function of the human body from cell to organism.
  • There are 11 body systems that interact to perform specific functions in the body.
  • Homeostatis is an equilbrium the body maintains to ensure survival.
  • Pathology of the body occurs when homeostatsis is not maintained.

The above objectives correspond with the Alabama Course of Study: Human Anatomy and Physiology standards: 9, 9a.