Can the blackened lungs come back white after quitting smoking? Can the risk of developing lung cancer be reduced? tell you the truth

Uncle Liu is 66 years old this year. He looks good, but he can be said to be an old smoker. When he was young, he was very addicted to smoking, and he smoked more than two packs a day. Two years ago, he was admitted to the hospital due to persistent unrelieved cough, chest pain and other symptoms. He was found to have extensive bullae, interstitial organizing pneumonia in both lungs, and his lungs had already turned black.

The doctor said that only 20% of Uncle Liu's lungs were working , and a lung transplant was necessary to continue his life. The hope of lung transplantation can only be pinned on the donation of brain-dead patients, and Mr. Liu can only face the consequences of waiting for a lung replacement.

Lung function continued to decline. In order to wait for the source of lungs, he could not go out for half a year, and he regretted it. Fortunately, after half a year, a suitable lung source arrived, and a surgical transplant was performed in time!

1. How long does smoking lead to black lungs?

Do you know how high the risk of lung cancer is for people who smoke all their lives? According to the data published by the British Journal of Cancer, people who smoke all the time have a 16% chance of dying from lung cancer, and those who smoke more than 5 cigarettes a day have a 25% chance of dying from lung cancer at the age of 75 .

South Korea's KBS TV station has previously released some images of lung endoscopy, and found that the lungs of non-smokers are generally pale pink, and there may be some light black spots caused by air pollution.

The lungs that have been smoking for 15 years have large black spots; the lungs that have been smoking for 30 years are like being splashed with ink, and a lot of black substances have accumulated in the deep lungs.

According to data, 80% of lung cancers are related to smoking , and the darkening of the lungs can generally be divided into three grades:

Level 1: Lungs that are generally black with charcoal;

The second level: black mesh lung, basically invisible pink, as inflexible as cinders;

Level 3: Like black sesame seeds, it feels a little chronic, but it feels grainy.

The degree of blackening of the lungs generally indicates the degree of lung disease. The degree of lung blackness of long-term smokers is generally the first or second level, especially those who smoke more than 20 cigarettes per day, who started smoking within 20 years of age, and who have smoked for more than 20 years, are more likely to develop lung cancer than others. Smoking is 13-25 times higher.

People who smoke regularly, have long-term exposure to second-hand smoke, kitchen fumes, car exhaust, decoration pollution, etc., are more likely to have darkened lungs. Black lung is not only a sign of lung health, but it can also be life-threatening.

Long-term smoking, the harmful substances in tobacco smoke, may stimulate the mutation of respiratory cells, induce lung cancer , and may also cause cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and other diseases.

2. If smokers start to quit smoking, what will happen to their bodies?

Do you know what happens to your body when you decide to quit smoking? The Chaoyang District Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Beijing has issued a document describing the following changes in the body after quitting smoking:

Three days after quitting smoking:

There is less nicotine in the blood, breathing becomes smoother, and the senses of smell and taste are more sensitive.

One month after quitting smoking:

One month later, the lung function improved a lot, the cough became less, and the spirit became better.

Three months after quitting smoking:

Shortness of breath, cough and other symptoms are relieved, cardiopulmonary function improves, infection rate decreases, and breathing is smoother.

Nine months after quitting smoking:

The risk of developing heart disease is half that of smokers.

Three years after quitting smoking:

The recovery of various body functions is similar to that of non-smoking peers, and smoking is no longer attractive.

Five years after quitting smoking:

The teeth are no longer obviously black and yellow, and the chance of being targeted by diseases such as lung cancer and throat cancer has also been reduced a lot.

That is to say, although quitting smoking may have a withdrawal reaction at the beginning, if you can get through it and insist on quitting smoking, you can effectively reduce the risk of cancer.

Many people may be curious, after quitting smoking, can blackened lungs return to their previous color? It's unlikely that you want to change back to a healthy lung color.

After all, many of the harmful substances in tobacco smoke have irreversible effects on the lungs. These harmful substances are difficult to be excreted, and the damaged lung function is difficult to recover . Therefore, it is not realistic to return to the previous color.

But a study published in "Nature" shows that quitting smoking can make healthy lung cells proliferate, and quitting smoking at any time will benefit.

By analyzing the healthy airway cells of current smokers, former smokers, adult non-smokers, children and other groups, the researchers found that quitting smoking at any age not only reduces the accumulation of harm, but also awakens some people who are not affected by tobacco. affected cells .

3. Why do some people get lung cancer after quitting smoking?

Why do some people get lung cancer after quitting smoking, since there are benefits to quitting smoking anytime?

If a long-term smoker is diagnosed with lung cancer after quitting smoking, it may actually be caused by long-term smoking harming the patient's body .

Tobacco smoke contains a variety of harmful chemicals, including more than 60 carcinogens. After these substances enter the human body, they will slowly damage cells, activate oncogenes, and even induce cancer in the body. Lung cancer after smoking cessation in smokers may be the manifestation of the damage to health caused by the accumulation of previous smoking .

A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that quitting smoking helped prolong survival even with lung cancer.

The researchers found that the median time from diagnosis to death was 22.8 months longer for those who quit smoking than those who continued to smoke, and the overall mortality rate was reduced by 33%, and the mortality rate from lung cancer was reduced by 25%.

However, many people may encounter a "withdrawal reaction" during the process of quitting smoking, resulting in a series of discomforts.

People who are addicted to smoking are actually addicted to nicotine. When they quit smoking, the nicotine in the body will decrease and the secretion of dopamine will decrease. People will experience withdrawal symptoms such as headache, anxiety, depression, inability to concentrate, insomnia and irritability .

The withdrawal reaction caused by quitting smoking does not actually harm the body.

The various symptoms that appear are a process of the body adapting to the absence of nicotine, and this reaction is temporary, and most will disappear within 4 weeks after quitting smoking . If you want to quit smoking, you must choose a scientific method. Once you decide to quit smoking, you must be ruthless, formulate a smoking cessation plan, and be good at summarizing experience.

Xiaojiu reminds everyone. Quitting smoking at any time is good for the body. Even if you have lung cancer, you can prolong your survival after quitting smoking. Although quitting smoking will produce a withdrawal reaction, don't worry, just get through it.

References:

[1] "How do smokers' lungs "blacken"? After reading it, quickly pinch off the cigarette in your hand". Life Times. 2019-11-21

[2] " Nature: Quitting Smoking Can Proliferate Healthy Lung Cells, It's Not Too Late to Quit Smoking Any Time ". Medical Tumor Channel . 2020-02-12

[3] "[World No Tobacco Day] Can quitting smoking cause lung cancer? ". Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. 2019-05-31

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