Effect of smoking

[DONNA1458]

When you give up smoking how long is it that they improve...I know they will never be back to normal but how long does it take to get out of your system.TIA

[LoftyLottie]

I think this gives the information you are looking for Donna. The information is at the

http://www.mind.org.uk/Information/Factsheets/ Smoking+giving+up+and+mental+health.htm

Look for "The health benefits of giving up smoking" about half way down the page.

[R1Geezer]

the body will recover pretty well and very quickly. If you are clear for 10 years you are 95% as if you had never smoked. Early on the benefits should be noticable very quickly, the most obvious being that you won't smell like a dung beetle who's really let himself go! Good work keep it up.

[theonlyone]

mrtheonlyone smoked for 30+ years ..
gave up 15 years ago but nearly died
as he had clots in the lungs and has damaged
his heart ..so now disabled ..

[Therema]

When i went to the stop smoking clinic i was told by 10 yrs your practically back to the way you were b4 you started, ive stopped now for nearly 5 yrs, on 2 inhalors for my chest and take infections pretty often all throught the stupid addiction i had, but im glad i stopped, and try to get my son to stop too *waste of time* now my other one with Asthma has just started at 21 Grrrrr what can a mother do eh ?

[BillySugger]

Lots of info here http://whyquit.com/

[beso]

While there are many things that recover when smoking is stopped unfortunately emphysema is not reversible. All you can do is stop it getting worse by stopping smoking.

Emphysema is caused by the breakdown of the elastic proteins in the air sacks (alveoli). It actually stops the lungs being able to fully expire. In the advanced stage the chest is fully expanded the whole time and only tiny breaths are possible. The only treatment is the removal of part of the lungs and this is not particularly effective.

A lot of the soot never comes out either.

While your lungs will never fully recover take heart in knowing you can at least stop doing more damage by quiting.