Effects of smoking on the lungs
Common Questions and Answers about Effects of smoking on the lungs
smoking
But we all know that smoking has its negative effects in the body and the lungs is the part that usually gets affected more when we smoke. Hopefully it doesn't harm yours since you said you're just smoking occasionally. But if you really want to get better, you will never go back to that bad habit of smoking again. You can consider e-cig as a better and healthier alternative to smoking instead.
I've read many studies on the research of marijuana on the lungs, brain, heart, etc. From my findings, I have found that moderate smoking poses little risk to the body. While I've ready pretty consistent reports on marijuana effects on the heart and brain, I read different articles about marijuana on the lungs everyday.
My boyfriend quit "cold turkey" about a month ago. Already he sleeps better and coughs so much less. And although he still struggles daily with the temptation, he's doing a great job, and I tell him so. He has since noticed that his hands are "puffy" (his fingers don't fit his bowling ball properly anymore) and that he is nasally "congested" and thinks it may be allergies.
Smoking can affect your pregnancy quite a bit because you are exposing your baby to harmful chemicals like tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide. Other than that, it can reduce the amount of oxygen that can damage baby's growth and lungs...That are so many more negative side effects and no positives...
You will need a detailed functional evaluation of your lung function and respiratory and cardiovascular function since chronic smoking can lead to various ill effects. You could be suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease like bronchitis or emphysema, heart attacks, strokes, cancer oral cavity and cancer lung. Consult a physician for the needful assessment so that any serious illness is screened and caught early for prompt management.
When I say less damage I don’t mean none, because tobacco smoke can cause cancer in the mouth as well as the lungs. Also, even though you aren’t inhaling smoke directly through the mouth to the windpipe, you are inhaling it through the nose. Otherwise you wouldn’t sense any aroma, and the aroma is most of the pleasure. In effect, you’re breathing your own second-hand smoke. So you’re probably spending some of your quality life time and time to disability on tobacco use and enjoyment.
Your risk of coronary heart disease is now that of a person who has never smoked. Quitting helps stop the damaging effects of tobacco on your appearance including:
• Premature wrinkling of the skin
• Bad breath
• Stained teeth
• Gum disease
• Bad smelling clothes and hair
• Yellow fingernails
Kicking the tobacco habit offers benefits that you'll notice immediately and some that will develop gradually over time. These rewards can improve your day-to-day life immensely.
Dear Dr Saini
I am a London, UK-based, 51 yo male and heavy smoker of 35 years duration. (I have now stopped smoking and it is 15 days since I stopped.)
For 3-4 weeks I had been suffering a very bad dry cough accompanied by real tightness high in the chest, wheezing and breathlessness. This was at its worse at night, and frequently woke me up in the early hours when I had to stand up or sit upright to breathe.
There was no release of phlegm attached to these symptoms.
Marijuana smoke contains some of the same ingredients in tobacco smoke that can cause emphysema and cancer. In addition, many marijuana users also smoke cigarettes; the combined effects of smoking these two substances creates an increased health risk.
Marijuana smoke has been found to contain more cancer-causing agents than is found in tobacco smoke.
I do know that cigarette smoke temporarily immobilizes the cilia in your lungs, which generally do the job of sweeping out the junk from your lungs. I can see the shortness of breath being due to the extra mucous being stuck in your lungs. However if this doesn't clear up say by 8 weeks, then perhaps it would be an idea to see your doctor, as there maybe an underlying lung condition. Especially if it really starts to interfere with your every day life.
Your lungs, after a full year of being smoke free may now be more sensitive than ever to the irritant effects of smoke and it is possible that you may have experienced some bronchial spasm, to account for your shortness of breath. The timing of your return to smoking and the onset of shortness after, but not before, smoking make this a very likely possibility.
COPD is Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which a chronic disease and causes symptoms of cough, breathlessness and wheezing. The commonest cause for COPD is smoking. The lungs age with smoking as in comparison to the person’s age. If you stop smoking at this point, the lungs are not damaged any further, though the damage that has already been done cannot be reversed. So, giving up smoking would be first step towards controlling COPD.
Thickening of the lungs is called 'pleural thickening', and although it is not a disease/condition, it is usually the symptom of one. Pleural thickening can be caused by tuberculosis, exposure to asbestos, sarcoidosis, or from an unknown origin. Pleural thickening can't be cured as the underlying cause needs to be treated. I would suggest your father see a pulmonologist (specializes in lungs) to determine the next step.
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