Smoker's delima

[Syntank]

I've smoked for about 3 years, it's the only thing that I'm worried about physically. I'm wondering if even since I've quit, am I always going to be held back by my lungs? I used to run the mile and the 4x400 in track back in high school, so it's causes a bit of damage to my pride to think I've done something irreversible. Is the carbon monoxide in your lungs forever? And will this permanently affect my success in the guard? :confused:

[jdcampbell]

No. No, and No. CO doesn't stay in your lungs any longer than it takes to draw in the next smoke-less breath, you are thinking about tar maybe. Either way, in 3 yrs I doubt you've screwed yourself up too bad. Plenty of SF and other high-speed guys smoke and they don't seem to have any problems running. Don't worry so much about the running, stay smoke-free for all the other reasons.

[Chaplain4me]

That your lungs pretty much recover after seven years of not smoking.

[clyde]

That your lungs pretty much recover after seven years of not smoking.
Wow, I've not smoked a cig in almost 8 years! I'm glad to hear that :D

[richierich]

You'll notice the difference quite sooner than 7 years. Check out the quit smoking websites, and you'll see the physiological stages of changes. Wheres Quantam RN when you need her?

[Chaplain4me]

I heard in seven years theres something like 90 percent recovery.

[Recruiter yosis]

around 6 mos for the radioactive materials to get out of your system allmost fully and 15 years for a 100% recovery.

[QuantumRN]

Wheres Quantam RN when you need her?

Sorry, I was in a 7 hour MMRB today and honestly, I wasn't gonna check in here because that's usually when I start to go off about how much I hate medical waivers. I won't go there, but I am grouchy about it, so consider me irritable. LOL

To the OP:
When it comes to quitting smoking, I teach that it takes half the time you smoked to recover. So 3 years of smoking, will take 1.5 years to recover. It also depends on your pack per day history. Smoking 5 cigs a day is different than if you were a chain smoker.

Good job quitting! Now stay that way!!!!

[AmPat]

Is the carbon monoxide in your lungs forever?
Reply With Quote

Carbon monoxide (CO) doesn't stay in your lungs for any longer than that breath. It is the blood stream where the damage manifests itself and even that is temporary. CO binds much more strongly to hemoglobin than does oxygen. One hemoglobin molecule can carry four oxygen molecules. Normally one cycle through your body exchanges an oxygen molecule with a carbon dioxide molecule. The more efficiently this happens, the better your athletic performance will be. So when you inhale CO, the strong bond hangs on for many more cycles than would oxygen. The CO molecule gets stuck, which means there is less ability to carry oxygen.

Furthermore Nicotine constricts your blood vessels, so there is less ability to deliver the already less oxygenated blood.

Then there are the lungs, you cake them up with smoke and tar and they are less efficient at exchanging gases. Additionally, their ability to clean themselves becomes impaired because the cilia are choked by tar.

Basically, You have less ability to draw in oxygen, your muscles get less bloodflow from the nicotine and what they do get is poisoned with CO.

Eventually, the CO lets go. Your liver and kidneys filter out the nicotine and other poisons. Your lungs replace the tissue that makes them up in the same way that your skin is constantly dying and being replaced by new tissue.


And will this permanently affect my success in the guard?

No. I also smoked throughout high school and for a short while in the service. I switched to dipping for a number of years, but now am tobacco free 99% of the time.

Unfortunately, I still smoke if I drink. I might have a half a smoke after 2 cold Bud Lights. I'm not endorsing it because I know it still robs me of performance, but I run 300's.

Your body should be well recovered. Just work out a lot and focus on your bright future.


P.S. Quantum, feel free to make any corrections. It's been a while since Anatomy and Physiology.

[QuantumRN]

AmPat- You rock. I have very few medics that could give an answer like that. You can work with me anyday. ;)

[Pvt.Brackney]

I smoked for three years and was in bad shape but I stopped smoking and now running a mile faster than what I did in school. I takes time and determination but If you want to get over it then push threw it.

[dorque]

Hey there. I smoke. I am going to basic in a couple months, in which I will be forced to quit, which is a good thing. I know a lot of people in the guard who smoke. Apparently it didn't make the job so much harder that they couldn't do it. Also here is a helpful link about recovering from tobacco addictions and how long it takes different systems of your body to heal.

Good luck! Don't let it hold you back from joining. You will have so much physical activity that, hopefully, you'll just get addicted to adrenalin instead. hehe.

http://quitsmoking.about.com/cs/afterquitting/a/quitting20minut.htm

[CombatRdy]

[QUOTE=dorque]Hey there. I smoke. I am going to basic in a couple months, in which I will be forced to quit, which is a good thing. I know a lot of people in the guard who smoke. Apparently it didn't make the job so much harder that they couldn't do it. Also here is a helpful link about recovering from tobacco addictions and how long it takes different systems of your body to heal.

[Quote]
Good luck! Don't let it hold you back from joining. You will have so much physical activity that, hopefully, you'll just get addicted to adrenalin instead. hehe.[Quote]


ive been smoking since i was 12 im 19 now so 7 years i recently quit and started running and i love it lol i dont no whats going on but now i cant go a day without running i think im addicted to running i run 5 miles every 4th day of the week and 2-3 miles everyday and yea i get tired but i think its really a mind thing just push yourself and you'll do fine