AboutMichael Dean Expertise Can answer
General information on tobacco addiction, and resources for quitting.
Information on current cancer research and the health effects of tobacco.
The risk of smoking for lung cancer and other cancers, as well as SIDS, heart disease, and vision loss.
The best place to start is 1-800-QUIT-NOW
Cannot answer
Specific medical questions
Experience Cancer Researcher for over 20 years
Author of the book "Empty Cribs-The impact of smoking on child health" www.artsciencepub.com.
Author of over 200 scientific articles on cancer, genetics and human disease.
Multiple interviews in print, TV and radio media.
Organizations American Association for Cancer Research
American Association of Human Genetics
Publications Scientific journals (Science, Nature, NE Journal Medicine, etc.)
Scientific American, Discovery Medicine, Nature Reviews in Cancer
Education/Credentials PhD. in Biochemistry from Boston University School of Medicine
Awards and Honors Young Investigator award-American Association of Cancer Research
Question Hi there, I am 33 and quit smoking just over three months ago. I had been smoking a pack a day for 17 years. I can hardly walk anywhere in the house without wheezing terrible, I wake up in the middle of the night full of mucus and it is hard to cough it up even though it feels like I am coughing up a lung, hardly anything comes up, what does come up is a white and thick. I am exhausted from sleeping only a few hours a night and am mortified by the fact that I can hardly walk to my kitchen from my bedroom with out gasping for air. This has only started the last three weeks after quitting. I am a healthy person that never had this problem of not being able to walk a short distance. Is this just side effects from quitting smoking or might there be something else wrong. I never want to smoke again after what I have gone through. Please help.
Answer Dear Stephanie,
Congratulations on quitting. This is best in the long run.
I would see a doctor. The lungs do take awhile to recover, but since this started in the last 3 weeks it could be an infection.
