Exercise, asthma and smoking

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Lesson notes

Effects of Exercise on Gas Exchange

During **exercise**, muscles need more oxygen to produce energy.
**Breathing rate** increases to take in more oxygen and expel more carbon dioxide.
**Heart rate** increases to circulate oxygen-rich blood to muscles.
Regular exercise can increase **lung capacity** over time, improving gas exchange efficiency.

Asthma and Its Effects

**Asthma** affects the airways (bronchi and bronchioles), making breathing difficult.
Symptoms include **wheezing**, **coughing**, **shortness of breath**, and **chest tightness**.
During an attack: muscles around airways **tighten**, lining becomes **swollen and inflamed**, and more **mucus** is produced.
These changes reduce airflow and **gas exchange efficiency** in the alveoli.
Triggers include **exercise**, **allergies**, **cold air**, and **smoke**.
**Inhalers** relax airway muscles, opening the airways.

Harmful Substances in Cigarette Smoke

**Nicotine** is **addictive** and increases heart rate and blood pressure.
**Carbon monoxide** binds to **haemoglobin** more strongly than oxygen, reducing oxygen transport.
**Tar** coats the lungs, damages **cilia**, and contains **carcinogens** (cancer-causing substances).

Effects of Smoking on the Respiratory System

Damaged **cilia** cannot remove mucus, leading to mucus buildup in airways.
This can cause **bronchitis** and **emphysema**.
Tar's carcinogens increase the risk of **lung cancer**.

Measuring Lung Volume

Use **water displacement** with an upside-down bottle.
Fill a large container with water and submerge an empty bottle, keeping the opening underwater.
Inhale deeply, then exhale into a tube connected to the bottle.
Exhaled air displaces water; the volume of displaced water equals **lung volume**.

Comparison of normal and asthmatic airways showing constriction, swelling, and mucus.

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Practice questions

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1.Which substance in cigarette smoke is addictive?
Easy
- ACarbon monoxide
- BTar
- CNicotine
- DCarcinogens
2.During exercise, what happens to heart rate and why?
Medium
- AHeart rate decreases to conserve energy.
- BHeart rate increases to circulate oxygen-rich blood to muscles.
- CHeart rate remains the same because breathing rate increases.
- DHeart rate increases to reduce carbon dioxide levels only.
3.Which of the following is NOT a trigger for asthma attacks?
Medium
- AExercise
- BAllergies
- CCold air
- DHigh blood pressure
4.During an asthma attack, the muscles around the bronchi and bronchioles tighten. What is the effect?
Medium
- AThe diameter of the airways increases.
- BThe diameter of the airways decreases.
- CThe airways produce less mucus.
- DThe lining of the airways becomes thinner.
5.Why is carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke poisonous?
Medium
- AIt damages the cilia in the airways.
- BIt binds to haemoglobin more effectively than oxygen, reducing oxygen transport.
- CIt causes the airways to produce more mucus.
- DIt increases heart rate and blood pressure.
6.Which of the following is a method to measure lung volume described in the source?
Medium
- AUsing a spirometer with a mouthpiece and a rotating drum.
- BWater displacement with an upside-down bottle.
- CMeasuring chest expansion with a tape measure.
- DUsing a peak flow meter to measure exhalation speed.
7.Tar in cigarette smoke damages cilia. What is a likely consequence?
Hard
- AIncreased oxygen absorption in the alveoli.
- BMucus builds up and sticks to the airways, potentially leading to bronchitis.
- CThe lungs become more efficient at gas exchange.
- DThe airways widen, making breathing easier.
8.How does regular exercise affect lung capacity over time?
Hard
- AIt decreases lung capacity due to increased demand.
- BIt has no effect on lung capacity.
- CIt increases lung capacity, improving gas exchange efficiency.
- DIt only increases lung capacity in people with asthma.

Revision notes

## Exercise, Asthma & Smoking ### Exercise - Muscles need more oxygen for energy → **breathing rate** and **heart rate** increase. - Regular exercise can **increase lung capacity**, improving gas exchange efficiency. ### Asthma - A condition where airways (bronchi, bronchioles) narrow, making breathing difficult. - **Symptoms**: wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, chest tightness. - **During an attack**: - Muscles around airways tighten (reduce diameter). - Lining becomes swollen and inflamed. - More mucus is produced, blocking airflow. - **Triggers**: exercise, allergies, cold air, smoke. - **Treatment**: inhalers relax muscles, opening airways. ### Smoking Cigarette smoke contains: - **Nicotine**: addictive; increases heart rate and blood pressure. - **Carbon monoxide**: binds to haemoglobin better than oxygen, reducing oxygen transport. - **Tar**: sticky; damages **cilia** (tiny hairs that remove mucus). Without cilia, mucus builds up → bronchitis, emphysema. Tar contains **carcinogens** (cancer-causing substances). ### Measuring Lung Volume - Use water displacement: fill a container with water, submerge an empty bottle upside down. Inhale deeply, exhale into a tube connected to the bottle. Exhaled air displaces water; volume of displaced water = lung volume.

Breathing rate: The number of breaths taken per minute; increases during exercise to take in more oxygen.
Heart rate: The number of heartbeats per minute; increases during exercise to circulate oxygen-rich blood.
Asthma: A condition where airways narrow due to muscle tightening, swelling, and mucus production, making breathing difficult.
Inhaler: A device that delivers medicine to relax muscles around airways, helping to open them.
Nicotine: An addictive substance in cigarettes that stimulates the nervous system, increasing heart rate and blood pressure.
Carbon monoxide: A poisonous gas in cigarette smoke that binds to haemoglobin more strongly than oxygen, reducing oxygen transport.
Tar: A sticky substance in cigarette smoke that damages cilia and contains carcinogens.
Cilia: Tiny hair-like structures in airways that remove mucus; damaged by tar.
Carcinogen: A substance that can cause cancer, found in tar.
Lung volume: The amount of air the lungs can hold; can be measured by water displacement.

Flashcards

How does exercise affect breathing rate?

During exercise, breathing rate increases to take in more oxygen and expel more carbon dioxide.

How does exercise affect heart rate?

Heart rate increases during exercise to circulate oxygen-rich blood to muscles.

What is a long-term effect of regular exercise on the lungs?

Regular exercise can increase lung capacity over time, improving gas exchange efficiency.

What is asthma?

Asthma is a condition that affects the airways (bronchi and bronchioles), making it difficult for air to move in and out of the lungs.

List three symptoms of asthma.

Wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness are symptoms.

What happens to the muscles around the bronchi during an asthma attack?

The muscles tighten, reducing the diameter of the airways.

What happens to the lining of the bronchi during an asthma attack?

The lining becomes swollen and inflamed.

How does mucus production change during an asthma attack?

More mucus is produced, which blocks airflow and makes breathing difficult.

How does an asthma attack affect gas exchange?

It reduces the efficiency of gas exchange in the alveoli by limiting airflow into and out of the lungs.

Name three triggers of asthma attacks.

Exercise, allergies, cold air, or smoke can trigger asthma attacks.

How do inhalers help during an asthma attack?

Inhalers relax the muscles around the bronchi and bronchioles, opening the airways and making breathing easier.

What is nicotine?

Nicotine is an addictive substance in cigarette smoke that stimulates the nervous system, increasing heart rate and blood pressure.

Why is carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke poisonous?

Carbon monoxide binds to haemoglobin in red blood cells more effectively than oxygen, reducing the blood's capacity to transport oxygen.

What is tar?

Tar is a sticky substance in cigarette smoke that coats the inside of the lungs and damages cilia.

What are cilia and what is their function?

Cilia are tiny hair-like structures that help keep the airways clean by removing mucus.

How does tar affect cilia?

Tar damages cilia, causing mucus to build up and stick to the airways.

What health conditions can result from tar buildup?

Tar buildup can lead to bronchitis and emphysema.

What are carcinogens?

Carcinogens are substances that can cause cancer; tar contains carcinogens.

Describe a method to measure lung volume using water displacement.

Fill a large container with water, submerge an empty bottle upside down with its opening underwater, inhale deeply, then exhale into a tube connected to the bottle. The displaced water volume equals lung volume.

True or false: When you exercise, your breathing rate increases.

True.

True or false: Nicotine is addictive.

True.

True or false: Allergies can trigger an asthma attack.

True.

True or false: Tar contains carcinogens.

True.

True or false: Cilia are tiny hair-like structures that remove mucus.

True.

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