A member asked:

Copd, i have been diagnosed with copd and it was attributed to my smoking over 20 years ago. i thought your lungs recovered over time?

5 doctors weighed in across 3 answers

Depends on damage: A certain level of damage can get better, but depending on how much damage was done even 20 years ago, your body may not have been able to completely recover its full function.

Answered 8/1/2016

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Never recovers: From the age of 25 on, there is a steady decline in lung function in a person. In one who smokes, and then stops, the starting point will then be lower than a nonsmoker, and the decline is parallel to that of the normal but always at a lower point. If there is then COPD those areas are destroyed and will not improve.

Answered 3/18/2016

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Dr. Joon woo Kim answered

Specializes in Pulmonology

Sorry: Unfortunately the lung does not recover and our lung function will deteriorate with aging whether you're a smoker or not.

Answered 10/9/2017

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