When will my lungs clear?

Question

So I quit smoking like... not even two days ago. Hahah. But I think I really might quit this time. Today I've had a nasty persistent cough and chest congestion. Is that a coincedence? It seems too soon for anything to happen yet. How long does it typically take for the lungs to clear out all the sh*t?

Answer 1

believe me, the coughing that you are experiencing right now is a GOOD thing. when you smoke, the cilias in your respiratory tract becomes paralyzed. they are there for a reason -- to propel the mucus out of your lungs. if those mucus are not coughed out or "propelled" they become a breeding ground for bacteria because of the warm and moist environment, in return you can get an infection because of it, and possibly pneumonia at the highest level.

now that you've stopped smoking, those cilias are starting to move now and they realize that you've had some secretions sitting in your lungs for a while now. they want to get rid of those secretions because it's bad for your lungs, so the motion in which they propel those mucus out -- can feel "irritating" to the lungs.

in the hospital, we actually encourage patients with thick secretions to cough it out. we educate them on how to cough effectively, and i suggest you do the same. whatever you cough out, spit it out and check for abnormalities -- like color, odor, and the taste (just kidding). by doing this, it can actually help you assess for any abnormalities in your lungs. if you suspect something that is not normal (like a strong odor or weird color) you must let your doctor know soon. to cough effectively, start with a deep breath then expectorate.

i hope you stick to the decision to quit smoking. the cough that you experience right now is just 1 small problem compared to many effects that smoking can do for you

Answer 2

It's hard to say whether smoking was the cause of your cough, but quitting was the smartest thing you could have done, as smoking will aggravate the symptoms. You could have an infection and probably need to be on antibiotics. See your doctor, and good luck on your quitting the weed!

Answer 3

Cough is caused by a number of ailments.
It can be treated by over the counter medicines
or home remedies. More information available
at http://ailments.in/cough.html