I had always thought that after 10 years or so of not smoking, the lungs would recover 100%, however I was recently listening to a radio programme about this very subject and supposedly the lungs, though they do heal somewhat, never return to a perfect state as if you had never smoked. This doctor explained that the lungs are not like the liver which can recover from a very bad state. Basically when you stop smoking, you stop further damage.
I was most disappointed at this news myself. I quit smoking after a 12 year or so habit and thought that I would regain my "virgin" lungs!
It is certainly better to quit than to continue though!
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I had always thought that after 10 years or so of not smoking, the lungs would recover 100%, however I was recently listening to a radio programme about this very subject and supposedly the lungs, though they do heal somewhat, never return to a perfect state as if you had never smoked. This doctor explained that the lungs are not like the liver which can recover from a very bad state. Basically when you stop smoking, you stop further damage.
February 13, 2009 - 4:13pmI was most disappointed at this news myself. I quit smoking after a 12 year or so habit and thought that I would regain my "virgin" lungs!
It is certainly better to quit than to continue though!
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