Mitigate the effects of smoking

SteveR_100Milers

Is it possible to completely reverse lung function after several years of smoking? I started when I was about 19, stopped at 21 when I started cycling, then started again gradually when I wasa about 26-27 after I stopped riding altogether. I gave up in 2003, and started cycling / racing again in 2006. I still have to regularly clear my throat of clear phlegm stuff which I assumed initially was the crap beaing cleared out (maybe it still is). I occasionally seem to have a slight wheeze, and whenever I get a cold virus it gets into my chest and knocks me out for a few days (like now). I suspect that the lung damage is permanent, though of course my age difference will probably mostly account for the big difference in training response today compared to my early 20s. Either way, smoking is one of the few things that I deeply regret doing.

Headhuunter

I smoked between the ages of 19 (started as most people do with just 1 every now and then at the pub) until I was 33 (by which time II had cut down strictly to 1 per day) at which point II stopped regular/daily smoking. Between these 2 ages my smoking hit about 10-15 per day at its highest, although could top 20 if I was out in the evening.

I still have the occasional naughty ciggie with a drink, possibly once every couple of weeks or less. I can tell the next morning when I have had even only a single fag, as there is more phlegm in my throat however it soon passes. I told my doctor and he really didn't seem to care. He marked me down as an "insignificant" smoker in his records.

I can't say that I feel any long term ill effect from my smoking but then it's hard to tell. Who knows what my lungs would have been like if I had never ever smoked. My lungs certainly feel clearer now than when I used to smoke on a daily basis and I certainly can't say that they are full of phlegm and tar.... As far as I'm concerned it appears as if all ill effects have been reversed...

SteveR_100Milers

I was never a heavy smoker - similar to what you describe in fact.

danfoz

I raced as a teen, quit biking altogether and smoked at least a pack a day for 5 years through college, quit smoking again, raced again for two years in my late twenties, met a beautiful girl who smoked, picked up the habit again - this time it lasted ten years chugging down at least 8 packs a week (that's 120 ciggs)! I quit again two years ago and did the best racing I've ever done last season... as a 43 year old! The body wants to get back to equilibrium at all times, its only idiots like me who get in its way. Who knows how I would have done never having smoked but that's neither here nor there.

mattshrops

your original question is it reversible- i beleive that it is.

started when i was 14 -stopped at 43, 2 years ago. feel loads better already. ive only been riding 6 months ,lost weight ,feeling fit ,feeling healthy, so a big YES

sjacob33

My wife is a doc and we have had this discussion before (we have friends trying to quit) well done to you guys who have given them the flick.

Not sure of the exact time scale but I think it is only about 10 years after quiting, but at that point you are back to being in the same risk catagory for lung cancer and other smoking related desiese as a non-smoker. Now don't quote me on this as it just me trying to remember off the top of my head.

KnightOfTheLongTights

sjacob33 wrote:

Not sure of the exact time scale but I think it is only about 10 years after quiting, but at that point you are back to being in the same risk catagory for lung cancer and other smoking related desiese as a non-smoker. Now don't quote me on this as it just me trying to remember off the top of my head.

sure, but that's not quite the same thing as effect on fitness / aerobic capacity

I fully believe that someone who has smoked not too heavily can get to a level of fitness after they have stopped as high (or very very close) as if they had never smoked

anyway, there's no point thinking 'what could have been' you have to do the best with what you have got and look forward