smoker's lung
Blackened respiratory tissue
Smoker's lung refers to the damaged, diseased state of lungs caused by long-term tobacco use.
The term covers various conditions—chronic bronchitis, emphysema, lung cancer—that result from years of inhaling cigarette smoke.
In medical contexts, the phrase often describes the blackened, tar-coated appearance of lung tissue at autopsy: The coroner noted classic smoker's lung.
- nicotine addictionDependence on tobacco's stimulant
- warning labelsNotices of potential danger
- tobacco industryCigarette and cigar trade
- bronchodilatorsDrugs that widen airways
- scarringPermanent mark formation
emphysema · air pollution · inflammation · corticosteroids · oxygen therapy · pneumonia · hyperinflation · airway obstruction · lifestyle changes · respiratory failure · COPD · asthma · wheezing · hacking cough · occupational hazards · cigarettes · filtered cigarettes · pack a day