Can Smokers’ Lungs Return to Normal: Explanation and Ways to Clean Them

KOMPAS.com – Smoking is an activity that threatens the health of the body, especially the lungs. So, can smokers’ lungs return to normal after stopping smoking?

Please note, healthy lungs have a bright pink color. Meanwhile, smokers’ lungs are black because they are covered with a layer of membrane due to long-standing smoking habits.

The difference between the lungs of smokers and non-smokers can also be seen from the lung capacity which makes smokers experience a reduced ability to take a deep breath compared to non-smokers.

This can occur due to damage to the chest muscles due to smoking habits.

To answer the curiosity above, you can read the explanation in the article below.

Also read: 5 Differences in the Lungs of Smokers and Non-Smokers

Can smokers’ lungs return to normal?

Quoted from MedicineNet, some smokers’ lung conditions can be cured after stopping smoking, but in some cases the lungs cannot return to normal like the lungs of non-smokers.

It is known that the lungs are an organ that in some cases has the ability to repair its own cells gradually.

When quitting smoking, former smokers can stop further lung damage, so that the lungs will begin to cleanse their organs of accumulated toxins and repair the damage that has occurred to return to normal.

Quoting Check4Cancer, the lungs will begin to repair inactive cells and damaged cells lining the airways or what is called the regeneration stage.

The time it takes for the lungs to heal depends on how long the individual has been a smoker.

Heavy smokers or people who have had a smoking habit for a long time need more time or have difficulty getting their lungs back to normal.

Also read: 8 Ways to Clean a Smoker’s Lungs after Quitting Smoking

Also read: 5 Side Effects of Cigarette Smoke Exposure to Passive Smokers

The reason why smokers’ lungs cannot return to normal

There is damage caused by smoking that is permanent and makes the lungs unable to return to normal even if a person has stopped smoking, including:

Emphysema is damage to the small air sacs in the lungs or alveoli. If this happens, the surface area of ​​the lungs can decrease over time. As a result, the body cannot exchange oxygen optimally.

Chronic bronchitis can also cause the small airways leading to the alveoli to become inflamed, preventing oxygen from reaching the alveoli.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD is lung damage that occurs due to emphysema and chronic bronchitis occurring simultaneously.

Although smokers may not be able to return their lungs to their normal condition due to smoking habits, smokers who have stopped smoking can experience significant changes, especially an increase in lung function after stopping smoking.

This is especially true for people with COPD, who after several years of not smoking, the rate of decline in their lung function can be equivalent to that of non-smokers.

After finding out whether smokers’ lungs can return to normal above, you can find out ways to clean smokers’ lungs to help repair damage to this vital organ.

Also read: Exposure to Cigarette Smoke Can Be an Indirect Factor Causing Stunting

How to clean smoker’s lungs

Excerpted from the American Lung Association and Healthline, here are several ways to clean smokers’ lungs that you can try:

The first way to clean a smoker’s lungs is to stop smoking. This method is the most effective for minimizing damage and helping heal lungs damaged by smoking.

If you have difficulty quitting smoking, try asking for help from health professionals at smoking cessation clinics available at a number of health centers, hospitals and other health services.

Coughing is a natural way that can help clean the lungs. When coughing, smokers can expel extra phlegm in the respiratory tract and can unblock smaller airways, so that the lungs can get more oxygen.

Adopt a healthy diet to help maintain lung health, especially if you have a chronic disease. Try including antioxidant-rich foods such as green vegetables and fruit in your daily intake.

Also read: 13 Causes of Atherosclerosis, from High Cholesterol to Cigarettes

The next way to clean smokers’ lungs is with regular exercise. As is known, exercise is part of a healthy lifestyle that can help improve health, including for former smokers.

The quality of the air you breathe is also an important factor in maintaining lung health. For this reason, avoid pollutants as much as possible as a way to keep your lungs clean.

Before leaving the house, make it a habit to check the air quality index available in a number of applications. Make sure to use a mask if air pollution levels rise.

Indoor air is also important to keep clean. You can regularly vacuum and clean the air vents. In addition, plant air purifying plants around the house to help keep the air quality clean naturally.

So, the question about whether smokers’ lungs can return to normal has been answered and how to clean them above. Remember, stop smoking immediately so that there is no further damage to the lung organs and overall health.

Also read: 8 Causes of Congenital Heart Disease, Can Be From Cigarettes to Viruses

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2023-12-08 00:30:00
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