Vapor's effect on the lungs

[schm00zer]

So I have a question for the veterans...

I'm a noob...I'd been smoking analogs for about 30 years, about a pack a day. I have quit cold turkey several times in the past...12 weeks was my max, but I always returned to it.

Now I've been vaping for about 3 weeks, and only a few analogs in that time, and absolutely none for almost two weeks now.

But something I was wondering about is the "lung cleaning" I've read about in the past for those who quit. Apparently, at some point after a smoker quits, the lungs begin to clean themselves, causing the ex-smoker to cough up lots of the tar and crud that has accumulated over the years. What I remember reading is that smoking causes the cilia in the throat, bronchial passages, and lungs to become paralyzed, suppressing the natural process of the respiratory tract to clean itself, and after quitting smoking this process can engage again and help clean stuff out...

So I'm wondering if vaping negates any of this? For those that were long-term, heavy smokers in the past, did you find yourself starting to cough up all the gunk after awhile...even after going to vaping? If so, how long before it kicked in? If not, do we think that vaping keeps this from happening?

I'm personally hoping that vaping does not hinder the process, because after 30 years, I'd love to see some progress of my body's attempt at a "clean-up". In all my time smoking, I've never had a cough, or any real respiratory problems (even after catching the flu or a cold), but I do know that my lung capacity is greatly diminished now (which is a fundamental reason why I switched...that, and the fact that my Mother passed away of lung cancer last year...).

Anyway, just some thoughts and questions about this. Looking forward to your feedback...

Schm00zer..

[SpitfireSMS]

I will try to fill in with links later, but I remember quite a bit of what your asking.

Yes the lungs need time to regenerate, and I have read some studies concluding that people that quit when they are 40-45 have a significant increase in life expectancy.
Likewise, people that quit at 25-30 can live on to the full life expectancy.

There has been a thread somewhere in this health section that discusses if vapor actually aids the process of healing.
Its an ongoing discussion, but there is a possibility of this being the case.

And yes, people cough stuff up.
Im young myself, only smoked for 5 years really, and I began coughing up stuff today(after 3-4 days of vaping) and it seems to have quit tonight.
I would imagine for someone that smoked more, the coughing up of gunk would happen a little later initially, and last a bit longer(depending on how damaged your lungs are of course)
Its great to hear that vaping is keeping you off the analogs, and i wish you luck
Hope this helps!

[Steph2323]

So I have a question for the veterans...

I'm a noob...I'd been smoking analogs for about 30 years, about a pack a day. I have quit cold turkey several times in the past...12 weeks was my max, but I always returned to it.

Now I've been vaping for about 3 weeks, and only a few analogs in that time, and absolutely none for almost two weeks now.

But something I was wondering about is the "lung cleaning" I've read about in the past for those who quit. Apparently, at some point after a smoker quits, the lungs begin to clean themselves, causing the ex-smoker to cough up lots of the tar and crud that has accumulated over the years. What I remember reading is that smoking causes the cilia in the throat, bronchial passages, and lungs to become paralyzed, suppressing the natural process of the respiratory tract to clean itself, and after quitting smoking this process can engage again and help clean stuff out...

So I'm wondering if vaping negates any of this? For those that were long-term, heavy smokers in the past, did you find yourself starting to cough up all the gunk after awhile...even after going to vaping? If so, how long before it kicked in? If not, do we think that vaping keeps this from happening?

I'm personally hoping that vaping does not hinder the process, because after 30 years, I'd love to see some progress of my body's attempt at a "clean-up". In all my time smoking, I've never had a cough, or any real respiratory problems (even after catching the flu or a cold), but I do know that my lung capacity is greatly diminished now (which is a fundamental reason why I switched...that, and the fact that my Mother passed away of lung cancer last year...).

Anyway, just some thoughts and questions about this. Looking forward to your feedback...

Schm00zer..

There was a thread on this which had a lot of info, but I can't find it now. My story is that I smoked 1 1/2 packs per day for 30 years, and the longest I was ever smoke free was 3 weeks. until now. As soon as I rec'd my first ecig, I quit analogs completely. It took a while for the "real" lung cleaning to start for me. In the first week, I could breathe better, but it took at least 6-8 weeks for me to start to cough up all of the brown speckled phlegm,and found others who had the same issue. For me, at least 2 months of this, and now it has cleared after 4 months. It wasn't constant, but it was annoying and I thought I was getting bronchitis at times. It takes a while is the bottom line. Good luck.
Stephanie

[jaybird]

i smoked for 20 years or so....i was 15 when i started. iv been vapeing for 5-6 months , and i feel great. im not a doctor, but im sure iv gotten all of the benefits of quitting smoking. as far as what the e-liqud does to your body,..well nobody real knows the long term, but i feel fine . no side effects, i can breath, i can smell, taste, and i dont stink anymore, + i have a lot more money in my pocket. i think most of us that vape, are taking a leap of faith, but i know my body, and over all health are thanking me for it.

jay

[~kerri]

Schm00zer- there is this thread about not coughing http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/for...-coughing.html
(I remembered it because I started it)
and no I have NOT started yet.
what does it mean? bad? good? dunno- but I feel better and my mouth tastes good...

[four2109]

I smoked 35 years. Switched to vaping from 2+ packs a day, over 6 weeks ago.
Haven't coughed at all. I think the nic probably still paralyzes the cilia.... or maybe the PG coats the lungs too. We don't know.

[schm00zer]

Thanks! Good stuff...

I guess I'll have to wait and see. I can say that my e-cigs definitely are completely fulfilling for me. So much so that I have no desire to smoke an analog. We'll see how it goes...

Schm00zer

[akr]

hey guys,
i have a fairly important question on the effects of the vapor on my ability to run long distances.
I usually give up smoking mid-summer to get ready for the soccer season which runs until november.
to test my lung capacity i usually would try and run 2 miles in less than 13 minutes. It starts off slow and im usually around the 16.30 mark, but last summer i managed to get it from there to 11.30 minutes in just 2 months of intense training.
Im looking to somehow make it all a bit easier this summer however. I had a torrid time giving up last year, and went straight back to analogs after the season ended.
If i start to smoke vapors will my lung capabilities increase enough so that it wont affect my running in games or at least help me get to 12.30 minutes with the help of intense training and healthy eating?
Thanks

[Daze]

Hey just curious, from what I can figure out vg is better to use then pg. I'm not sure about this, its just from I can pick up here and there. When I say better, I mean does less damage if any and is a safer product to use. I will go zero nicotine and just smoke for the flavor mixing candy oils and vg to the whatever taste im looking for, trying to be as safe as possible. This has scared me a little into thinking that the vg is going to cause some kind of dehydration or fluid in the lung issue now. Anybody have any links or thoughts on this?

[four2109]

No one here can tell you that anything about ecigs is safe, or better than anything.
Many use VG or PG because they have reactions to one or the other. VG is also popular because it creates a more dense vapor that lingers longer. We don't know anything, except many of us have been able to stop smoking cigarettes by satisfying the cravings with ecigs.

Schm00zer, 13 weeks and still no coughing.