What are smoker's lungs?

October 09 2021, by Willy van Knippenberg
3 min reading time

Smoker's lung develops when someone smokes cigarettes for a long time. The tar in cigarette smoke then settles on the lung tissue. What can you do about it?

Smoker's lung develops when someone smokes cigarettes for a long time. The tar in cigarette smoke then settles on the lung tissue. COPD is the medical term for smoker's lung.

Smoker's lungs

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic lung condition in which the airways gradually lose oxygen, making it harder for air to reach the lungs. About 9 out of 10 COPD patients are smokers or former smokers . Typically, one has to smoke one pack a day for 10 years to develop COPD.

The tar in cigarette smoke you inhale causes the cilia in your lungs to stick together. These cilia can no longer function properly. Smoking makes your lungs dirtier and irritates the mucous membranes in your lungs. Chronic inflammation can develop. If the cilia are no longer able to remove mucus, coughing is the only way to do so, resulting in smoker's cough.

Treatment of smoker's lung

Quitting smoking is the first step in treating smoker's lung. Smoking makes breathing increasingly difficult over time. Therefore, it's never too late to quit. The sooner you quit, the longer your lungs stay young. If your lungs are damaged by years of smoking, they age at the same rate as non-smokers from the moment you quit.

Need help quitting smoking?

Quitting smoking isn't easy. Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances, making withdrawal very difficult. But it's not impossible. We've written about the VISOR Choice Guide before, but there are other organizations that can help you as well.

Starting January 1, 2020, smoking cessation counseling will be covered by health insurance. There are several ways to quit smoking, such as:

professional guidance
nicotine replacements
medication

You can also get free support via text or email, with tips and advice to help you stay on track. This way, you can prepare for your quit date and receive support. Sign up for quitmail at ikstopnu.nl

Cleaning Smoker's Lungs: Effective Ways to Clean Your Lungs After Quitting Smoking

Smoking can seriously damage your lungs. Smoking causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways, making it harder to breathe and increasing your risk of lung cancer and other serious health problems. Fortunately, there are several effective ways to clear smokers' lungs.

One of the first things you can do to clear your lungs is quit smoking. This gives your lungs a chance to heal and inflammation to subside. If you find it difficult to quit smoking, it may be advisable to seek help from a smoking cessation program or a therapist.

Besides quitting smoking, there are other things you can do to cleanse your lungs. For example, you can drink plenty of water daily to loosen the mucus in your lungs and help you cough it out. Eating a healthy diet, rich in fruits and vegetables, can also help cleanse your lungs.

In addition, it can be helpful to do breathing exercises, such as deep breaths and breathing techniques specifically aimed at clearing the lungs. Yoga and meditation can help with this.

Finally, there are some natural supplements and remedies that can help you cleanse your lungs. Examples include herbs like thyme and oregano, which have expectorant properties, and supplements like vitamin C and magnesium, which can improve lung function.

In short, smoking can seriously damage your lungs, but there are ways to reduce this damage and cleanse your lungs. Quitting smoking is the most important step, but other healthy lifestyle choices and breathing exercises can also contribute to the recovery of your lungs.