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A member asked:
I quit smoking, but i'm worried that my lung is still damaged. what can i do?
2 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
Pulmonary testing: If you are concerned about the health of your lungs i advise getting pulmonary function tests. These tests can measure to see 1) how old your lungs are and 2) if they sustained any damage from smoking. Congratulations by the way; the average yearly lung loss for a smoker is between 2-3 tablespoons of lung functino whereas non smokers only loose 1 tablespoon of function per year!
Answered 2/22/2012
6.3k views
Pulmonologist: The risk of lung cancer remains high for 10 years after you quit. The bronchial mucosa and the cilia will recover after quiting. However, emphysematous changes in the lung are permanent once developed. A complete pulmonary function test with cat scan will establish a baseline. Yearly imaging studies for ten years is advised for high risk patients to increase chances of detecting early lung cancer.
Answered 8/20/2012
6k views
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