How you long does it take for your lungs to recover after you smoke cigarretes?

Question

I'm always running and I'm an on again, off again smoker. I quit smoking for about six months but I've recently binged on the Newports again. Since I quit I've been able to run without fatigue better (duh!). But I was wondering if there is an exact scientific statistic on how long it takes for your lungs to recover, or if it varies by person. I'm pretty active, I run five days a week for four or five miles a shot. Your help would be greatly appreciated. Thank You.

Excuse me, I spelled cigarettes wrong. Oooops

Answer 1

My husband decided to stop smoking in June '06. His doctor xrayed his lungs. His doctor wanted him to return in 4 weeks to check his breathing. When he listened to his breathing he said that he could tell that his breathing was much better. He also xrayed his lungs and you could see the improvement there.
I really do not think that running will prevent the cigarettes from harming your lungs, running is much better for cardiac.

Answer 2

Oh, lungs recover? As far as I know, they don't... Your lungs get damaged as soon as you smoked your first stick... Even non smokers have dirty lungs...What more of a smoker. I guess in your situation, it's better to quit smoking, if you don't want your life to end faster...

Answer 3

It all depends on your age and on how much you have smoked in the past and for how many years. Smoking cigarettes is affecting other organs besides your lungs. It all depends.

Answer 4

please contact the american lung society. they most certainly can answer all of your questions. i do know that 1 day after you quit smoking healing starts to take place.

Answer 5

once tar builds up on your lungs the onle logical way to get rid of that is to hack it up which is neither likely or healthy, once its there is kind of stuck there.