To best prevent emphysema, a patient is instructed to stop smoking since cigarette smoke

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Cigarette smoking impairs alpha₁-antitrypsin, allowing elastase to predominate and destroy lung tissue, causing emphysema.Although cigarette smoking does paralyze cilia, this action predisposes to respiratory infections rather than to emphysema.Although cigarette smoking does predispose to respiratory infections, that is not the mechanism that causes emphysema.Carcinogens introduced by cigarette smoking increase the risk of developing lung cancer, but they are not responsible for emphysema.

To Best Prevent Emphysema, a Patient Is Instructed to Stop