Expert: Stacey Lloyd - 8/13/2006

Question
Hi,

I'm 18 and I wouldn't have smoked more than 110 cigarettes in my life, over the last 2 years.
My smoking frequency was, maybe 1 today, 1 tomorrow, and then not another cigarette for the next 2 months. I have never smoked more than 3 cigarettes in any given day and when I have smoked, say, 5 cigarettes in any one week, I have regretted it, and not smoked for the next 2 months. I hope I'm making sense as I'm not sure I'm explaining myself correctly.

My question to you is, how much damage would the 110 cigarettes over the period of 2 years have done to my lungs?

Is it bad? And if so, how bad?

Can it be repaired, and how?

And is there any way that I can reset my lungs to the lungs of a non-smoker?

If any of this is possible, how long will it take for my lungs to heal themselves back to the lungs of a non-smoker?

Thank you for your time.

Harris

Answer
Harris,

I appreciate your concerns for the damage that you may have done to your lungs via smoking. I hope you will continue to stay a ex-smoker!

There's no way of knowing what, if any, damage has been done by the few cigarettes you've smoked. You should talk your doctor about your concerns.

There is no way to "reset" your lungs to that of a non-smoker. If any damage has been done, it will be permanent. The best thing you can do is continue to stay smoke-free and live a healthy lifestyle. Here are a few resources to get you on your way:

Good Respiratory Health Requires Good Dietary Habits
http://lungdiseases.about.com/od/generalinformation1/a/resp_health.htm

Top 5 Foods That Improve or Prevent Lung Disease
http://lungdiseases.about.com/od/generalinformation1/tp/topfoods_ld.htm

8 Tips for Reducing Your Risk of Cancer
http://lungdiseases.about.com/od/lungcancer/qt/prevent_cancer.htm

Take care,

Stacey Lloyd
Lung Diseases Guide
About.com
http://lungdiseases.about.com