Posted by Phil on October 2, 2003, at 15:30:19
In reply to Tobacco and permanent lung damage, posted by jonh kimble on September 20, 2003, at 13:03:17
If you were to get emphysema, it's irreversible and continues to get worse whether you continue to smoke or not. Christy Turlington was diagnosed with it at a young age. Quitting would still, obviously, be the thing to do.
Phil borrows cig from James.
Lung cancer risks are measured in pack years and I don't read the stats because I'm probably there.
1 pack a day for 20 years=20 pack years
2 packs a day for 20 years=40 pack yearsIt's hard to quit even at 7 a day but it gets worse. I don't think you have anything to worry about(if you quit now) but if you keep smoking and follow the majority of smokers, You'll increase your intake and talk about quitting but won't.
If you continue smoking, drink lots of water to help flush your system and walk or jog..it helps in coughing up what lives in your lungs. Don't kid yourself though, these things can help but won't stop cancer.
A lung cancer diagnosis is bleak, very bleak. No matter what modern medicine can do, you'd be very lucky to have 5 more years. Sometimes by the time it's diagnosed, you're 6 months away from dying.
I think the worst part is just losing resilience to a point that easy things to do start getting difficult.
With the amount I've smoked and family history figured in, I'll be lucky to see 60. On the other hand, my aunt that smoked 2 packs a day of Taryton's just died at 90.
Probably more than you wanted to hear but I'll add one more, do not smoke menthol ciggies, they're worse.
Good luck.
poster:Phil
thread:261946
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/subs/20030903/msgs/264980.html