Damage to lungs

[Alien Traveler]

The cilia seem to grow back in about 90 days, even with vaping, which is why around the 90 day point, there's some coughing up (at least there was for me) -- it's like the last of the tar buildup is making its exit. The heat isn't so extreme, as it is with smoking, and I think it's the heat that kills the cilia.

No, its not a heat, its smoke.
Disclaimer: I Googled.
While cilia does restore rather quickly some of the damage is not reparable and reduction of some other takes rather a long time. 10 to 15 years of not smoking (after quitting) required to reduce chance of lung cancer to those of non-smoker.

 

[AndriaD]

alien Traveler" data-source="post: 14531277" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch">

No, its not a heat, its smoke.
Disclaimer: I Googled.
While cilia does restore rather quickly some of the damage is not reparable and reduction of some other takes rather a long time. 10 to 15 years of not smoking (after quitting) required to reduce chance of lung cancer to those of non-smoker.

Ah, I wasn't sure if it was the heat alone or the toxic chemicals that get deposited as tar; I read something, many years ago, that mentioned that the extreme heat of smoking was one of the most damaging factors.

Andria

 

[skoony]

alien Traveler" data-source="post: 14531277" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch">

No, its not a heat, its smoke.
Disclaimer: I Googled.
While cilia does restore rather quickly some of the damage is not reparable and reduction of some other takes rather a long time. 10 to 15 years of not smoking (after quitting) required to reduce chance of lung cancer to those of non-smoker.

it should be noted that the 15-20 year figures are specious at best.
often quoted to give the appearance that smoking is much worse than
it really is,along with many other health problems associated with smoking.
over he last 50 the use of coal has been drastically reduced and along with
improved emission controls has not lowered the rates of occurrence of
illnesses associated with its use.in some case incidence of occurrence are
increasing.the methodology's used in determine mortality rates associated
with the use of coal are the same with the use of cigarettes.

regards
mike

 

[danibanani]

The cilia seem to grow back in about 90 days, even with vaping, which is why around the 90 day point, there's some coughing up (at least there was for me) -- it's like the last of the tar buildup is making its exit. The heat isn't so extreme, as it is with smoking, and I think it's the heat that kills the cilia.

I've had asthma for about 30 yrs (adult-onset), and I found that as little as 5 days without smoking meant I didn't wake up sounding like a water-pipe. I can walk right alongside my husband in parking lots, without getting winded; I can walk up hills without missing a step. Sometimes I do still get a bit winded from strenuous exertion, probably just because I do still have asthma, but it's NOTHING like when I was a smoker. Stairs don't faze me a bit.

Last week, I came down with a cold. My sinuses are pretty wretched, but no coughing, except to clear my throat -- my lungs aren't affected one bit, which is mighty weird; when I was a smoker, every cold I got went straight to my chest, making me sound like a TB patient or something. This time, none of that at all.

You might want to go pretty light on VG, if you have some airway obstruction. I've found over and over that anything over about 25% VG just suffocates me. I think it's because the VG is so thick, it coats the airways so thickly that the lungs can't clear it quickly enough to prevent that suffocating feeling -- PG is thin enough that the lungs can clear it before it ever feels like a problem, however the PG has been really irritating my sinuses and throat, with this cold, so I'm just trying to vape lightly -- and surprisingly, it's really not a problem; I don't feel that terrible need, as I did with cigarettes, to go ahead and smoke no matter how sick I was.

Andria

Andria,

Your post nailed it on the head for me. I swear we could be sisters! I'm only 3 weeks in and I am noticing the dramatic effect smoking cessation and switching to vaping has done to my lungs. I went through horrible bronchitis at the beginning of September and I should have quit then. I thought I was going to die one night when I couldn't catch my breath after a coughing fit, it was so scary!

It just feels good that I'm actually going to be a analog free woman after it's crutch all these years. I didn't think it would ever happen. It happened, successfully, with vaping.

Take care,
Dani

 

[danibanani]

No, its not a heat, its smoke.
Disclaimer: I Googled.
While cilia does restore rather quickly some of the damage is not reparable and reduction of some other takes rather a long time. 10 to 15 years of not smoking (after quitting) required to reduce chance of lung cancer to those of non-smoker.

Yes, I agree. It's the tar in the cigarettes. (I was a registered nurse for 10 years) Was taught it in school and heard the docs say it all the time to the smokers who were admitted.

 

[AndriaD]

Andria,

Your post nailed it on the head for me. I swear we could be sisters! I'm only 3 weeks in and I am noticing the dramatic effect smoking cessation and switching to vaping has done to my lungs. I went through horrible bronchitis at the beginning of September and I should have quit then. I thought I was going to die one night when I couldn't catch my breath after a coughing fit, it was so scary!

It just feels good that I'm actually going to be a analog free woman after it's crutch all these years. I didn't think it would ever happen. It happened, successfully, with vaping.

Take care,
Dani

Nice to meet another bud of Bill W, too! Aug 14 was my 22nd sobriety birthday -- so we even share the same month!

It really is a miracle -- I smoked for 39 yrs and thought I'd smoke till it killed me, as it killed my dad in '06 -- really glad to finally be smoke-free!

Andria

 

[FlamingoTutu]

No, its not a heat, its smoke.
Disclaimer: I Googled.
While cilia does restore rather quickly some of the damage is not reparable and reduction of some other takes rather a long time. 10 to 15 years of not smoking (after quitting) required to reduce chance of lung cancer to those of non-smoker.

Interesting, read that too. Seems it wasn't that long ago they were telling you your chances of lung cancer were back to normal after five years.

 

[danibanani]

Nice to meet another bud of Bill W, too! Aug 14 was my 22nd sobriety birthday -- so we even share the same month!

It really is a miracle -- I smoked for 39 yrs and thought I'd smoke till it killed me, as it killed my dad in '06 -- really glad to finally be smoke-free!

Andria

Definitely a fan of Bill W, I was an addict for many, many years.

Girl, we're ALIVE and LOVING life!!!

xoxo, Dani

 

[AndriaD]

Definitely a fan of Bill W, but I work NA most of the time, I was a opiate/...... addict for many, many years. Lost my nursing license because of my addiction (I never stole, just kept failing drug tests).

Girl, we're ALIVE and LOVING life!!!

xoxo, Dani

I was always scared to death of opiates -- but back in the summer when my appendix went kerflooey, I sure was glad of the morphine in the ER! That is the WORST pain I have EVER felt -- worse than labor or recovering from a c-sec, by FAR! But I had the laparoscopic surgery, so afterward, hardly any pain at all, I switched from hydrocodone to ibuprofen by the 2nd day -- but the nausea/vomiting nearly killed me! That's why my smoke-free days are so low, 4 days without vaping meant a) vaping tasted HORRIBLE, and b) the cravings were about to kill me! So I smoked, but managed to quit again after just a month. Now, in 10 days I'll be back to the 115 days I made it the first time, before I smoked. After that, when I get to 120 days smoke-free, that will be my own personal best, since i started smoking in 1975.

Andria

 

[Alien Traveler]

Interesting, read that too. Seems it wasn't that long ago they were telling you your chances of lung cancer were back to normal after five years.

I did no research, but it it possible that after five years chances of cancer are reduces by (let's say) 80%, and another 10 years give just the rest - 20%.

 

[englishmick]

That sounds about right. I read something about that once, decades ago, which included a graph showing the reduction in cancer risk, it was one of those curves that approaches the line but never quite gets there. The 15 year figure was in there as the point where the difference was within the margin of error.

It also had some numbers for the risk of stroke and heart attack associated with smoking. It was so long ago that I'm not sure, but I think it said the stroke and heart attack risk approached the non-smoker level quite quickly, around a year or two.

 

[Alien Traveler]

It became interesting.
-----------------------------------
JAMA Network | JAMA | Smoking Cessation and Decreased Risk of Stroke in Women
The risk of suffering a stroke among cigarette smokers declines soon after cessation and the benefits are independent of the age at starting and the number of cigarettes smoked per day
--------------------
Smoking and Older Adults - American Lung Association

Benefits of Quitting Smoking for Older Adults

In one year, the added risk of heart disease is cut almost in half

After one year the women who quit smoking had 2 times more improvement in lung function compared with the men who quit

Although most former smokers preferred quitting cold turkey, less than 5 percent will have long term success.16 Using a tobacco treatment plan doubles the quitting success rate.
-------------------
MMS: Error

Adults who had quit smoking at 25 to 34, 35 to 44, or 45 to 54 years of age gained about 10, 9, and 6 years of life, respectively, as compared with those who continued to smoke.
-------------------------
Smoking cessation and mortality among middle-aged and elderly Chinese in Singapore: the Singapore Chinese Health Study -- Lim et al. -- Tobacco Control

Significant reduction in risk of total mortality, specifically for lung cancer mortality, can be achieved within 5 years of smoking cessation
-----------------------
Smoking cessation improves mortality in Japanese men: the Hisayama study -- Ikeda et al. 21 (4): 416 -- Tobacco Control

The excess risk of all-cause death for current smokers tended to decrease within 5 years after smoking cessation, eventually reaching a level almost equivalent to that of never smokers. The risk of cancer death decreased by 53% in subjects who had quit smoking for ≥10 years, while the risk of cardiovascular death decreased by 56% in subjects with the cessation period of <10 years.

 

[Frenchfry1942]

There is a lot to read here and I am thankful for the links. I do have to remember that vaping is Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR). I still have the habits and nicotine need. But, I am still very grateful not to have all of the other chemicals that are in cigarettes. Since getting a better understanding of cigarettes, I am appalled that they are permitted to be sold. Anyway, vaping is a lot better than smoking.

 

[PaulieD]

You have only stopped smoking 3 weeks ago? You will experience great clearing of your lungs and a multitude of health benefits.
I stated vaping years ago because I was diagnosed with chronic bronchitis. There is a history of emphysema in my family too.
My PFT indicated small airway disease. I also have allergies and silent relux, There were times they all played in concert
and really made my lungs a mess.
I take meds for the reflux, and every now and then use Qvar inhaler.

I also in the last 3 years got to running 20-25 miles a week and competed in some 5 and 10k races.
I am telling you this because vaping is much, much better than smoking, my proof is ME.

My lungs are a little sensitive to PG, but you can adjust those things.
Don't smoke , keep vaping and watch those lungs keep clearing more and more.

From a friend of Bill W....for 25 years

 

[philoshop]

The fact that I smoked for 40 yrs before I switched to vaping will be a simple dot on someone's chart/graph after I die, used as proof to support whatever theory they might have at the moment. I feel better both physically and mentally since I made the switch, and that's what counts for me right now.
Best of luck to you Dani!

 

[danibanani]

I was always scared to death of opiates -- but back in the summer when my appendix went kerflooey, I sure was glad of the morphine in the ER! That is the WORST pain I have EVER felt -- worse than labor or recovering from a c-sec, by FAR! But I had the laparoscopic surgery, so afterward, hardly any pain at all, I switched from hydrocodone to ibuprofen by the 2nd day -- but the nausea/vomiting nearly killed me! That's why my smoke-free days are so low, 4 days without vaping meant a) vaping tasted HORRIBLE, and b) the cravings were about to kill me! So I smoked, but managed to quit again after just a month. Now, in 10 days I'll be back to the 115 days I made it the first time, before I smoked. After that, when I get to 120 days smoke-free, that will be my own personal best, since i started smoking in 1975.

Andria

Andria,

You are my new hero! You started smoking a year before I was born and you have 105 days smoke free under your belt now, I know you can kick this! You've kicked bigger things, but I'm sure you're like me, the analogs were the hardest to quit. But girl, you can't turn back now. Not even an option. Keep on vaping!

Always,
Dani

 

[danibanani]

You have only stopped smoking 3 weeks ago? You will experience great clearing of your lungs and a multitude of health benefits.
I stated vaping years ago because I was diagnosed with chronic bronchitis. There is a history of emphysema in my family too.
My PFT indicated small airway disease. I also have allergies and silent relux, There were times they all played in concert
and really made my lungs a mess.
I take meds for the reflux, and every now and then use Qvar inhaler.

I also in the last 3 years got to running 20-25 miles a week and competed in some 5 and 10k races.
I am telling you this because vaping is much, much better than smoking, my proof is ME.

My lungs are a little sensitive to PG, but you can adjust those things.
Don't smoke , keep vaping and watch those lungs keep clearing more and more.

From a friend of Bill W....for 25 years

PaulieD,

Thanks for sharing your story! I feel for you and your poor lungs... but man, you're running marathons?!?! That is super awesome and makes me super motivated. I have coughed a little more than usual the last couple of days, but googled it and it said that it is my lungs clearing the residual nasty analogs I put into them for so long. I am walking up the stairs with friends now and actually KEEPING up without huffing and puffing! That is such a great feeling.

Thanks so much for writing and take good care.

PS- I'm also on Qvar, so we may have the same type of asthma/lung obstruction/disease process.

Take care,
Dani

 

[Caffeine7]

After 30+ years of smoking 1-2 packs a day vaping was the only thing that worked to get me to stop. It's been 15 months now and I definitely feel better. A month or so ago I had a chest cold and went to the doctor to get some antibiotics. He listened to my chest and said my lungs sounded good. I had not heard that in years usually it was that I was on a fast track to copd and emphysema. I'm sure I did damage to my system that will never heal but I feel so much better. I also suffer from a severe case of evening sweettoothitis and the vaping keeps that in check too. Another friend of bill here too 8/20/04

 

[Iffy]

Thanx to the many that have already contributed to the OP's post.

I'll just add that with all my improvements in physical and mental health, NO ONE can tell me that vaping is near as detrimental as vaping!!!

My first signs of emphysema of six years ago are no longer present, O2 went from 92 to 99, lower BP and etc.

If I were to be diagnosed with lung cancer tomorrow, it would be due to over 45 years of smoking; NOT vaping!

Vaping has been a pleasant, rewarding and life extending experience in my 'winter' years! That's not counting the wonderful folk that I've grown so close to here on the ECF...

 

[rondasherrill]

Everything worth while has already been stated I think... Back in 2011 or 2012, a member here posted a thread with before/after lung x-rays that showed pretty outstanding results. I can't find that long since forgotten thread, but google lead me to a similar one here:
Electronic Cigarette xray results