if i no longer smoke cigarettes will be lungs heal or do they remain damaged?

Question

i have smoked for 6 yrs and now i have quit because i have bronchitus. i want to know if my lungs will heal from the years of cigarette smoking or will they stay damaged?

i have no intentions on ever smoking again i just want to know if my lungs will fully heal or will they forever remain damaged.

Answer 1

I am pretty sure they regenerate but here are some facts you should know about as well...Good luck quiting...

20 minutes after quitting: Your heart rate drops.
(US Surgeon General's Report, 1988, pp. 39, 202)

12 hours after quitting: The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
(US Surgeon General's Report, 1988, p. 202)

2 weeks to 3 months after quitting: Your circulation improves and your lung function increases.
(US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, pp.193,194,196,285,323)

1 to 9 months after quitting: Coughing and shortness of breath decrease; cilia (tiny hair like structures that move mucus out of the lungs) regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection.
(US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, pp. 285-287, 304)

1 year after quitting: The excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker's.
(US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, p. vi)

5 years after quitting: Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker 5-15 years after quitting.
(US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, p. vi)

10 years after quitting: The lung cancer death rate is about half that of a continuing smoker's. The risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, cervix, and pancreas decrease.
(US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, pp. vi, 131, 148, 152, 155, 164,166)

15 years after quitting: The risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmoker's.
(US Surgeon General's Report, 1990, p. vi)

Answer 2

There's some good news. some bad.
First of all, get an accurate damage assessment from your doctor. After all, he can do x-rays.

You will have some blackened portions in your lungs, similar to coal miners, but at 6 years, they should be relatively small. These will either heal into healthy tissue, or scar tissue in about as many years as you smoked. Your lung capacity is permanently reduced, but you will still be able to hike the mountain trails as well as your buddies in a few years. The bronchitis will recede, but you will have to watch it to make sure that whenever it returns, and it will periodically, it will not develop into something critical. Your taste and smell will return in about 6 months to a year, and your skin will clear up in the long haul. If you want your teeth back in order, you will have to work with a good dentist and periodontist to undo the damage from the ravages of smoking. It's a mixed bag, but if you are young enough, the healing process will work very well. You will never get 100% respiration, but it could come back in the high 90's. Most of all, you will thank your lucky stars, when you're my age, that you stopped in time. Be of good cheer--it could have been much, much worse. and, of course, good luck. B.

Answer 3

Ask your doctor. Everybodies different.My cousin got lung cancer from smoking and he only smoked for about 8 years, my dad on the other hand has smoked for over 40 years and his lung xrays looked like someones who have never been in a room with someone that was smoking.If it does heal it'll probably take a while and only heal to a point.Congrats on quitting.

Answer 4

Your lungs can heal. Especially if the damage wasn't too bad. I think it's something like in 5 years your lungs are like a non smoker. But ask your doctor the next time you go in. They'll know for sure. And good for you!

Answer 5

Your body will slowly regenerate some of the damaged tissue, but a lot of the damage is already done. The good news is that the body is an incredible system, and it will compensate for some of the loss (it already has to a large extent) and you will notice improvement in your breathing over time.

Remember, though. Stopping, even if you don't regain damaged areas, is FAR better than continuing to damage them.

Good luck!

Evan.

Answer 6

having some chiclets and avocado they will not have damage, about your lungs they are quite healthy, and wil remain such, stop with the doritos, they are not good to you, same as ribs on parmesan, get the effect, that is a start. Just kidding, bye baby. Love you. 3 (cousin).

Answer 7

slowly... lung will heal just don't smoke any more.


your throat will heal.. and parts of your stomach too.. smoke doesn't just get into the lung... but your throat is exceptionally effected, stomach and of course the mouth... remember... your mouth is direly effected by smoke.

:D

you'll heal.... by now you should be feeling that.

Answer 8

They will heal to a point, you will never have the lungs of someone who never smoked. Your lung capacity will improve greatly, you will regain you sense of taste, your skin will improve. My dentist told me that your teeth will not whiten on their own though. Congrats on quitting! The bottom line though, you will FEEL better.

Answer 9

They will heal.
And people that don't smoke can still get lung cancer. It's been proven. Dana Reeves had it. she never smoked. I've smoked now for 35 years. Not once have I ever got lung cancer. No lung problems either.

Answer 10

Your lung heals slowly, but it will heal
It depends on how long you have been smoking

Answer 11

They DO heal. The lining will become pink, the surfactant clear, and the cilia will regrow and again work to clear debris from your lungs. It will take time, but it will happen. You have done yourself a great favor.
My mother died fron emphysema, and it was horrible!