Training & Nutrition - how long after not smoking do lungs heal?

Basically as the title says, I stopped smoking for 6 months ago and im just curious how long before my lungs get to 100%? I wasn't a heavy smoker maybe 1/3 pack a day.

the genearal time line is 1 year but everyone's body heals differently. It could take longer to get the elasticity back in your air sacks either way you're about half way there. congrats on being smoke free for 6 mo. How do you feel since you've quit?

Healtier and cleaner over all.

I dont know whether it was peak of my season or what but the last event i did was a TT managing 24 minutes fixed (10 miles flat) that was 3 months after nto smoking, my previous best time was ~27 minutes.

It's funny how I quit, the owner of bike shop I work at and now race for bet I couldn't quit for 3 months, he bet my bike versus another one. and i won quit cold turkey. I think he was betting on me getting beligerintly drunk and smoking.

I heard 20 years.

I heard 20 years.
you heard?

just go to some quit smoking websites and the american lung association website http://www.lungusa.org and click on the "research" and other sections at the top they will have a ton of info up there. Also might want to just talk to a doctor.

Is there anyway to rinse them out? Like with that liquid-lung stuff?

before i quit smoking i went to the doc to get a full evaluation and they told me i didn't damage my lungs much if at all really. but on the same note i was also told people who smoked as much as long as me could have severe lung problems possibly cancer... its really a genetic flip of the coin. deff not a chance worth taking good for you cleaning up

Basically as the title says, I stopped smoking for 6 months ago and im just curious how long before my lungs get to 100%? I wasn't a heavy smoker maybe 1/3 pack a day.


How long did you smoke for, and how much did you smoke during that period? How old are you?

How long did you smoke for, and how much did you smoke during that period? How old are you?

3 years/ 19. Also im in good health.

honestly i think you'll be in good shape, your only 19 i know for woman its best that they quit before they are 30 b/c that is a major turning point in the body. But for you you'll be back to 100% in no time epically since you've started riding bikes. Just keep it up, you've kicked a drug that is harder to quit than heroin. keep it up and thank that dude you work with for saving your life.

3 years/ 19. Also im in good health.

Congratulations on quitting

I think it would be hard to say how long it takes to make a full recovery, but considering that you are still very young and in good shape your short lived smoking history probably did not harm you that much.

You probably did not cause too much damage in 3 years; you will probably make an almost full recovery. I think the main thing that smoking at such a young age would cause is lowering the potential that you can ultimately reach, as far as your fitness goes. That being said you probably did not do that much harm. What may be the best way to recover is to do lots of exercise to increase you lung capacity. As well, now that have quit, make sure that you do not start again.

Best of luck to you.

The biggest effect on excercise from smoking is not lung damage but carbon monoxide binding to hemoglobin and making it incapable of carrying oxygen. This effect can be eliminated 1-3 months after quitting, so maybe thats why you did so well in that TT.

As far as lung damage, I agree that you should read up on the American Lung Association's website

1 year for cardiovascular problems, 10 years for lung cancer...in other words, after those timeframes your risk will be about the same as the non-smoking population. At least, that's what I've heard.

the healing starts almost immediately, but takes, as has been mentioned, a few years. But i remember noticing the increase in lung capacity in just a few days, better circulation, etc. The good thing about smoking is that once you quit, the potential for certain conditions can be reversed. Whereas with illnesses caused by weight, it's not the same- once you have high blood pressure or diabetes, you can't reverse them, only treat them.

The only downside is your hematocrit levels go down. ;)

you heard?

just go to some quit smoking websites and the american lung association website http://www.lungusa.org and click on the "research" and other sections at the top they will have a ton of info up there. Also might want to just talk to a doctor.

Or maybe it was 20 years untill bad things start to occur.

It takes about a year. I found out in an interesting way. I was walking home one evening and the neighbors nuisance/yap dog began his ritual of "barking" me from the corner to the end of his property. This time I had had enough. I growled at the dog and began chasing him. That chicken-sh t little punk dog really ran. About 2 miles later, I backed off and went home. Wow! I ran two miles. The upside; never saw that dog again. bk

before i quit smoking i went to the doc to get a full evaluation and they told me i didn't damage my lungs much if at all really.
And you paid money for that BS .:rolleyes:

How can someone work for and stand behind their cigarette company and know that their product kills people. How cold.

I am glad of one thing. My kids ragged me into quitting and saw me struggle with it for about a year before it stuck. Fortunately, this happened early enough that they never took it up in their teen years. Looking back, it amazes me that it is even legal to sell cigarettes, given how hysterical the government is about marijuana. bk

I quit 5 years ago after 40 years of 1 1/2 packs non-filtered a day (I'm 58). I quit because I finally couldn't stop coughing and couldn't walk to the end of the block with out being winded. Now I run 3 - 10 mile distances (avg 10 min miles) and bike centuries (15 mph avg on a 1988 Schwinn)...I do start out each run or fast/hilly ride breathing harder than my friends who never smoked, but I can run and bike beter/faster and longer than many 1/3 my age..I don't know how much healing has taken place but it is a lot...Congratulations on quitting!!!!!!!

The risk of cancer due to cigarette smoking declines the longer you remain disease and cigarette smoke free. However a smoker will always have a higher risk for lung disease than someone who has never smoked. Keep in mind activity and other pollutants affect risk factors.

Some people develop lung cancer from second hand smoke, although it's very rare.