Yes: the lungs begin to clear themselves almost as soon as you quit, but the process can take many months, and even years. Risks of lung and heart disease return back to baseline after about 10 years following quitting. How well the lungs heal depends on how much damage was done. If someone has severe emphysema, it will not get worse, but might not get much better. Otherwise, healing is pretty good.
Answered 9/25/2016
4k views
4 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
A doctor has provided 1 answer
A doctor has provided 1 answer
A doctor has provided 1 answer
2 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more.
Ask your question