Question: What does smoking do that makes ones voice lower and more raspy?
Answer: The bronchioles, bronchi, and trachea are lined by a multi-layered epithelium (a pseudosratified columnar epithelium). This provides the airways with a given amount of compliance, or ability to adapt to changes in volume. Inhaling smoke causes a process called metaplasia, in which the pseudostratified columnar epithelium flattens out into a simple (one layered) squamous (flat) epithelium. This increases elasticity (decreases compliance)and reduces the airways ability to adapt to incoming air. Because of this, we are less able to pass air through the larynx, and thus reduces out ability to modulate our voices. Combine this effect with blisters directly on the vocal chords (another direct result of smoking) and you get a deep, raspy voice.
Seems like this should be more complicated, but its really not...
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