how long does it take

United States
January 7, 2009 4:41pm CST
My mother and I were talking, and started talking about people who smoke and drink. She tells me that once you start smoking that your lungs never clear up. she stopped smoking over 25 years ago. and she insisted that becuase of that she get this cough. I don't remember where I read or hear that if one stops smoking,after a certaint time your lungs will clear. doesn't anyone know anything about this. I know I can look it up, but I would like to hear from my friends.
2 people like this
12 responses
• United States
8 Jan 09
I have herd that your lungs can clear up when you stop smoking. It will just take sometime to clear up. depends on how many years someone has smoked to. I am a smoker and wish I could quit all the same.
1 person likes this
• United States
8 Jan 09
Yes I have tried to stop smoking before. I stopped cold turkey for 3 months and started right back up on it. Wish I didnt but I did. I will try and stop again that is for sure. But it can get hard at times to try and stop.
1 person likes this
• United States
8 Jan 09
You know if you do stop cold turkey, and when you get the feeling where you want to smoke, keep some type of snack with you, like carrots, celery sticks. I do smoke but I can give it and I don't have the feeling where I need to have one. I know I will smoke once I go into a casino, and I don't see me until march. My daughter smoke but she does it outside, and the smell comes in and it bother me. Have you tired the patches? or anything else?
• United States
8 Jan 09
I will try that. Thank you. The patch I have not tried. I guess with so many side effects from stuff out there thats why I never try it. I wish I could be like you lol. And dont smoke unless I am a certain place. But it hasnt been easy for me.
• India
8 Jan 09
There are no fixed guaranteed thing that the lungs will clear up. It may if the smoker didn't smoke very frequently. If some one used to be a chain smoker, then there are less chances of clearing up. It's lie a layer of soot that covers up the inner walls of the lungs, and how can they just clear u without a cleaner. As because we cannot provide a cleaner, and just only inhale and exhale, so it's just a chance factor.
1 person likes this
• United States
8 Jan 09
[[i]b]Hi moumit The smoke is bad enough, but breathing all the pollution that is out there is just as bad, people that don't smoke, could also have the same problem because of others smoking and the pollution. so either way we're both don't have clean lungs. thank you for your response.[/b][/i]
• United States
8 Jan 09
she used to smoke at least two packs a day, and reason being was that my brother was in vietnam, once he came home she gave it up. And look at all the smog and pollution that is in the air, not smoking is still effecting our lungs. thank for your response
• India
8 Jan 09
the lungs will not clear up , what i think is : there is some blokage of nerve system and due to that people can`t breath easily also it depends on amount of smoking . And this blokage is clear up of lungs in general language.....
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
8 Jan 09
[i]Hi kaleegirl, I have no idea also about this but my Dad was a smoker too and quits 4 years ago! This time, he is very sensitive for cold water and everytime he will have it,, he will have a cough right away! I do know if it is because of he was a smoker before...He loves drinking tea twice a day and I know it's helping him in a way but only when he will be drinking cold water! I hope we will hear from anyone who has a medical background here! Thanks for opening this post! Very informative![/i]
1 person likes this
• United States
8 Jan 09
[i][b]Hello my friend. Tell your dad that when he drinks he's teas to put honey it them. It will soothe his throat. When I do get a cough, my mother is so ready to make me a her potion, which is honey, lemon and garlic, it's an old rememdy. One mylotter posted a website and it give allkinds of information. have a great day.[/b][/i]
1 person likes this
• United States
9 Jan 09
ohhhh..thanks for that tip friend! I will relay this information to my Parents and will also try this! Enjoy!
@alnilam (969)
• United States
8 Jan 09
They tought us that to reach the normal level is smoking years x 2. So if she smoked 10 years - 20 years to recover completely. Also if she stopet smoking before the age of 25 the proces is quicker because the lungs are still "cleaning" themselves. Anyway if she was a ocassional smoker it would be quicker.
1 person likes this
• United States
8 Jan 09
Hi alnilam, She was smoking everyday, she smoke at least two packs a days give or take during that time my brothers was overseas. When he came back she stopped. She hasn't smoke since. she also mentions that when she is around people that smoke the smell is stronger. Her lungs should be almost clean. thank you alnilam
• China
8 Jan 09
hello???your words remember me that my fater gave up somking 20years ago? but he keeps on cough and plegmy all these years? it even getting worse as his ages added? perhaps the lung will never be cleaned once one get smoke, i will never smoke myself but can‘t stop to smoke the secondhand smoke from others? may god bless those smoking people?
1 person likes this
• United States
8 Jan 09
I have an uncle who is the same way, he used to smoke the cigs with out the filter. In Mexico they sell these cig that smell so bad and don't have a filter. Healso use to drink hard drinks which didn't help him. now he is suffer from that ugly cough, he can't walk for long period of times. I don't need to smoke but I do. thank you for your response
@paoxav (1382)
• Philippines
8 Jan 09
I'm not so sure but I guess it make take up years or even longer before your lungs finally clean up but you need lots of rehabilitation for it. That's why I myself never smoke coz I know the risk that it can cause me in the future. My father also stopped 2 years ago coz it affects his health so much. He's doing fine now but we're not yet sure if his lungs were as clean as mine.
1 person likes this
• United States
8 Jan 09
[i][b]Hi paoxav, Good for you, don't follow a smoker footsteps (like me). I also tell my daughter that because I smoke i don't have her to do the same. my oldest smokes. So which is worst, smoking or inhaling second hand smoke? thanks paoxav for your response.[/b][/i]
• United States
11 Jan 09
I have heard that it can happen but don't know for sure if it can or not. I smoke and am sure my lungs don't look that good. But it's my one habit.
@ellie333 (21016)
7 Jan 09
Hi Kaleegirl, I really don't know the answer to this one but do remember a friend saying that after only a couple of weeks of not smoking the carbon monoixde levels were 0 when they went to a non-smoking clinic. 25 years is a long time for your mum not to have smoked so I would have thought her lungs are clear by now. Huggles. Ellie :D
1 person likes this
• United States
8 Jan 09
[[i]b]Hi ellie That's what i told her, but she insists that she still has something in her lungs. she had gone to the doctors and x-rays were taken, they didn't find anything, I guess she just at the age where what she hears she thinks she has. I tell she needs to stop watching the doctor channel. have a great day[/b][/i]
@leenie50 (3992)
• United States
8 Jan 09
Hi kalee, I'm afraid your Mother is right. I do know that they do clear quite a bit but I'm afraid not completely. I hope your Mother has had her cough checked out. Even though she was a smoker she shouldn't take a cough for granted. There may be some thing that can be done for it. Coughs are caused by many things. Don't let her ignore it.xoxoxo leenie
1 person likes this
• United States
8 Jan 09
Hi leenie, how have you been? and Happy New Year. Believe there is nothing wrong with her, she pickle herself. She will use all kinds of remedies to cure what ever is hurting her. And as fas as her going tothe doctors she has to actually be close to dying before she goes. When she broke her hip, though it was a hair line, it took two days to get her to go to the ER. It got to the point where I couldn't do anyting, i had to call my uncle to come and take in. After that the doctors told her to do do anything for at least a year, of couse she didn't listen within six months she was back in the hospital with another hip surgery. She drinks spoonful of honey if she keeps coughing. thank leenie for your rsponse.
@redhotpogo (4401)
• United States
8 Jan 09
every part of the body heals. people will tell you it doesn't, but that's just not true. it takes time though. the more you smoke, the more tarnished your lungs are going to be, so it will take longer to clear them up. you can also go to a point that they might be so messed up that it can put an overload on your body, and cause other areas of your body to be effected. but anyway, yes lungs do clear up. mine did.
1 person likes this
• United States
8 Jan 09
I think they do, when they took the x-ray and if they found something I'm sure they would have told her, but she insisted that they found a small spot and that it hurt. How long has it been since you last smoked?
@pujagupta (102)
• India
8 Jan 09
The cough you are talking about is the smokers cough. It takes years on for lungs to be cleared. I feel they never get cleared at all. The doctors say the cant get cleared bu you just have to take medicine for the cough. In India we do yoga. By yoga i feel we can cure any problem. I am sure that is the solution to smokers cough also. But you have to Quit smoking.
1 person likes this
• United States
8 Jan 09
Hi pujagupta, You see she doesn't cough that often, when she does take medication she will cough, but even with that, she hardly ever takes anything. She won't take mortin for a headache, she will just let go away by it self. You say that yoga help to cure problem,does it also help with pain? Can you let me know. thank you so much
@murugezh (273)
• India
8 Jan 09
There will positive changes happen after stopping smoking. You don't worry about clearing the lungs, when ever you are affected by cold after recovery you can feel the new breeze on the air. That means all your lungs dust been cleared. So be happy in stopping smoking.
1 person likes this
• United States
8 Jan 09
[i][b]Hi murugezh, Thank you, I though so, my mother has stopped, like I said over 25 years. she was smoking also when my father was station overseas. I don't know how much she smoke, than when my brother was sent to Vietnam, she kept smoking, and all she did was smoke and drink coffee. But believe it or not she is as healthly as a horse.[/b][/i]