4 ms·

This reflects what my doctor told me several years ago (four and a half?) when I quit. He didn’t use the word magic. He did say that after four or five years o

This reflects what my doctor told me several years ago (four and a half?) when I quit. He didn’t use the word magic. He did say that after four or five years or so my lungs would be in the same condition they would have been if I had never smoked—but only if I quit then. I’d smoked in the vicinity of a pack a day for close to ten years if I were to give it a rough average. That said, I was very active in my youth, and worked physical jobs and played live music beside any sedentary work I’ve done. I continue to do so as well. YMMV. Edit: I thought I should add that I don’t want this to sound like an endorsement of the body’s ability to endure punishment. If I could go back I wouldn’t pick up regular smoking as I did. And I wouldn’t start again. I return regularly to the feeling of relief that I’m not so bound to it anymore. I don’t hate it, and I’d have a cigar, and maybe when I’m an old withered man I’ll pick up pipe tobacco. Who knows. For those who can manage it without getting too regular, good for you—life is short. I wouldn’t tempt myself that way again. Anyway, whisky’s a finer poison in my books—and similar cautions apply. ;)

beauzero 7y ago
I would also add that quitting smoking was one of the hardest things I have ever done. Just don't start. Some people don't have a problem quitting. I did.
- bitxbitxbitcoin 7y ago
  That is why one of my favorite quitting smoking jokes is: "Quitting smoking is easy! I've done it 5 times." - 7 years without a stoge.
- 52-6F-62 7y ago
  Yep it took me a few tries as well. It didn’t help that at the time I worked with some bitter people who liked to disparage at every turn: “you never quit, you just stop for a while”. That kind of nonsense. My doctor was a real motivator, and yet never laid a guilt trip. Ultimately, taking some time off and feeling as terrible as I needed for few days really made a difference. Not everyone can make that time. I will say that after the first week it was mainly habits and the waning cravings but the best part is that: It gets easier and easier and easier and then you forget you ever did.
- blt 7y ago
  Same. I'm almost at 3 years quit, but I've quit for 3 years in the past and then restarted.
gruez 7y ago
>He did say that after four or five years or so my lungs would be in the same condition they would have been if I had never smoked—but only if I quit then. I hear statements like this repeatedly and always wondered: if given 5-10 years your lungs can really heal themselves so it's like you never smoked, does that mean you can smoke with no health consequences by stopping when you're middle aged? (before there's any real risk of contracting lung cancer)
- lysp 7y ago
  > does that mean you can smoke with no health consequences by stopping when you're middle aged? There are many health consequences - lung health is just one
- 52-6F-62 7y ago
  I’m not in my lane here, but I’m guessing there are a number of variables—length of habit, physical history, exercise habits, genetics, so on. Not sure its worth wagering on it.
- FooHentai 7y ago
  Don’t think so, but then it’s always a game of risk multiplied by time. Less chance but not zero risk. Can’t speak on lung cancer. My mum died in 2013 from non-Hodgson’s lymphoma and she only smoked for a few years in her early twenties. She was diagnosed in her forties and it didn’t actually get her until her early seventies. The risk there is highest in current smokers, lowest in non-smokers, and past smokers are in the middle.
- nickbauman 7y ago
  Apparently research has shown that each cigarette smoked can damage DNA; where build up of damage in the same cell is what leads to cancer. So your lungs can recover. Your lung* DNA, less so. * mouth, pharynx, nose / sinuses, larynx, esophagus, liver, pancreas, stomach, kidney, bowel, ovary, bladder, cervix ...
  - koheripbal 7y ago
    I believe there are specific DNA errors that cause a cell to become cancerous. The effects are not cumulative. It's about statistics - the longer you smoke and the more you smoke, the more likely you will be to get cancer.
flukus 7y ago
The effects of quitting have been part of the quit smoking campaigns here (https://www.quit.org.au/articles/the-health-benefits-of-quitting-smoking/ https://www.quit.org.au/articles/the-health-benefits-of-quit...), so the news that your body recovers somewhat is hardly new. Also these positive ads are the only ones that had an effect on me compared to the usual vilification they contain. I've been switching to vaping lately which has cut down my smoking a lot, especially when I'm drinking. I plan on switching to 100% vaping at some point and after a couple of months it's starting to happen naturally more and more. Maybe if I get that far I'll lower the nicotine levels and try quitting, but for now it's nice to smell a bit better, breath a bit better and not have a burning hole in my wallet.

beauzero 7y ago

I would also add that quitting smoking was one of the hardest things I have ever done. Just don't start. Some people don't have a problem quitting. I did.

bitxbitxbitcoin 7y ago
That is why one of my favorite quitting smoking jokes is: "Quitting smoking is easy! I've done it 5 times." - 7 years without a stoge.
52-6F-62 7y ago
Yep it took me a few tries as well. It didn’t help that at the time I worked with some bitter people who liked to disparage at every turn: “you never quit, you just stop for a while”. That kind of nonsense. My doctor was a real motivator, and yet never laid a guilt trip. Ultimately, taking some time off and feeling as terrible as I needed for few days really made a difference. Not everyone can make that time. I will say that after the first week it was mainly habits and the waning cravings but the best part is that: It gets easier and easier and easier and then you forget you ever did.
blt 7y ago
Same. I'm almost at 3 years quit, but I've quit for 3 years in the past and then restarted.

gruez 7y ago

>He did say that after four or five years or so my lungs would be in the same condition they would have been if I had never smoked—but only if I quit then. I hear statements like this repeatedly and always wondered: if given 5-10 years your lungs can really heal themselves so it's like you never smoked, does that mean you can smoke with no health consequences by stopping when you're middle aged? (before there's any real risk of contracting lung cancer)

lysp 7y ago
> does that mean you can smoke with no health consequences by stopping when you're middle aged? There are many health consequences - lung health is just one
52-6F-62 7y ago
I’m not in my lane here, but I’m guessing there are a number of variables—length of habit, physical history, exercise habits, genetics, so on. Not sure its worth wagering on it.
FooHentai 7y ago
Don’t think so, but then it’s always a game of risk multiplied by time. Less chance but not zero risk. Can’t speak on lung cancer. My mum died in 2013 from non-Hodgson’s lymphoma and she only smoked for a few years in her early twenties. She was diagnosed in her forties and it didn’t actually get her until her early seventies. The risk there is highest in current smokers, lowest in non-smokers, and past smokers are in the middle.
nickbauman 7y ago
Apparently research has shown that each cigarette smoked can damage DNA; where build up of damage in the same cell is what leads to cancer. So your lungs can recover. Your lung* DNA, less so. * mouth, pharynx, nose / sinuses, larynx, esophagus, liver, pancreas, stomach, kidney, bowel, ovary, bladder, cervix ...
- koheripbal 7y ago
  I believe there are specific DNA errors that cause a cell to become cancerous. The effects are not cumulative. It's about statistics - the longer you smoke and the more you smoke, the more likely you will be to get cancer.

flukus 7y ago

The effects of quitting have been part of the quit smoking campaigns here (https://www.quit.org.au/articles/the-health-benefits-of-quitting-smoking/ https://www.quit.org.au/articles/the-health-benefits-of-quit...), so the news that your body recovers somewhat is hardly new. Also these positive ads are the only ones that had an effect on me compared to the usual vilification they contain. I've been switching to vaping lately which has cut down my smoking a lot, especially when I'm drinking. I plan on switching to 100% vaping at some point and after a couple of months it's starting to happen naturally more and more. Maybe if I get that far I'll lower the nicotine levels and try quitting, but for now it's nice to smell a bit better, breath a bit better and not have a burning hole in my wallet.