why does breathing get worse.

[Neo7]

I stopped smoking six years ago, and since stopping I find my breathing is worse. I find I cannot do half the things I use to as whwn when I was smoking. Can anyone give me an explination for this, as I have also heard other people say the same thing after stopping . Neo

[Hidden]

I think it best you pose this question to your GP who will investigate your condition.

My breathing improved when I stopped smoking 14 years ago. The morning cough disappeared which was a big bonus. I think our system needs to get used to a new regime when something we've done for ages stops or something we've never done begins.

[katieoxo60]

Hi Neo7, I have the same problem as you in respect of breathing, it is ten years since I gave up and I still have a chronic cough. I am diagnosed as COPD which took some time to sort out so you do need to speak to your GP as your breathing is still not back to normal as there may be an underlying cause or it may simply be you need exercises to get your stamina back. Take care don't delay in seeing the GP best wishes

[vittorio]

Hi Neo7, oh dear ! , this seems to be one of the most frequently asked questions - for many people including myself, the minuet I STOPPED smoking - the Trouble BEGAN , = coughing. spluttering , puffing and the production of a hell of a lot of Mucus and shortness of breath, = NONE OF WHICH I EXPERIENCED WHEN I DID SMOKE !! - and I must admit I've never heard a satisfactory explanation to this mystery, On calling out a PARAMEDIC the other week I was very surprised to hear from him, that HE TOO SUFFERERS FROM C.O.P.D. ! - and has never smoked in his life ! and is STILL looking for an explanation , as does - wait for it ! - MY PHARMACIST ! who supplies my inhalers ! - yet another person who has - you've guessed it, NEVER SMOKED IN HIS LIFE ! , and finally , my OWN DOCTOR - YES - another victim of C.O.P.D.- having never smoked .... and who admitted to me the other day that " If he told his patients what they would be in for when they packed up smoking - NONE OF THEM WOULD PROBABLY GIVE UP THE CIGGIES !!, - I must admit, this seems to be one of the few diseases on earth, that the minuet you STOP doing the "WRONG " thing - ie, Smoking - it begins to "Punish " you for your past activities !! - Oh dear, conversely, I hear that if a heavy drinker reduces his drinking, or packs it in altogether the LIVER CAN " REPAIR " ITSELF - unlike our Lungs - AINT FAIR !! , never mind, we are all different , and all we can do is learn to MANAGE our illness - try not to " Suffer" from it , but to "Live " with it . Find out as much as you can how others deal with this illness VIA THIS SITE, or any gatherings of people with this illness, such as the "Breath Easy" groups that have started up all over the country, question your Doctor, and carry out any suggestions that may be given to you to help deal with this illness - ITS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD, AND YOUR NOT ALONE ! , so good luck .....

[Nikkers]

I've never understood that either Neo? I gave up smoking in 1992 and have gradually got worse ever since. It seems that once you stop all those years club together and decide to punish you for the rest of your life! lol

I can remember going to my GP years ago and he would nearly always be smoking during my consultation - even offering me one sometimes! He lived to a ripe old age

as did my adoptive Father who smoked from the age of 12. It seems that there are rules for some, and rules for another and our bodies go one of the two ways.

I did not want to stop smoking and would still "kill" for one even after all these years (not that I could afford them at todays' prices). I often question whether it was worth it? My social life stopped because of my inability to breath any sense, and what (to me) was my only pleasure was gone.

I think Walter Raleigh has a lot to answer for! lol ;_D

[vittorio in reply to Nikkers]

...Hmm - LIFE IS FULL OF CONTRADICTIONS -Nikkers !! ...

[Nikkers in reply to vittorio]

Ain't it just babe? XX

[rubyred777 in reply to vittorio]

Do you ever wonder why you quit? You think your doing something good and it turns around and kicks you right in the butt! No pun intended! Good though. Lol

😀😀 xx

[Hidden in reply to Nikkers]

yes your right nikkers but so do this government , they still inport tobacco to sell

[Dragonmum]

I have heard this so often but please be assured that if you have respiratory disease then cutting out smoking is essential. I failed to quit, even though I was in a very bad way and tried every method possible. I would pack it in for up to two years but always fell off the wagon. I finally switched to an e-cig and problem solved - that was more than five years ago and the improvement in my health was dramatic. It is certain that we are all very different - many people who switch describe the same symptoms of nasty cough while their lungs appear to be clearing out the "gunk", but these then seem to subside in a few days or weeks. Smoking can mask the symptoms of some nasty conditions like ulcerative colitis, this is to do with blood supply as I understand it, but this would have shown up anyway at some point. I will never smoke again - the very thought of it nauseates me, but I will continue to vape my lemon and strawberry juices which substitute very nicely for a 60+ year smoking habit. I still have the satisfaction with 95-99% reduced risk and that can't be bad odds!

[Offcut]

All the drugs in the tobacco and there I think a sedative in there to stop the burn. But that will also hold back some of the problems. So once you get past the addiction of the cigs the lungs will be in the true state they were while smoking. It can take many years to get all of the gunk and make any difference to the lungs but it may not mean they are worse just your body has been conning you while smoking.

Keep off them!

Be Well

[Bernardbreather in reply to Offcut]

I agree Offcut. But what people seem to be missing is that our lung function gets worse as we age anyway.

[Offcut in reply to Bernardbreather]

The big problem with getting older

[warbler]

I was diagnosed C.O.P.D 18 months ago,quit the cigs, increased the exercise etc etc but showed no symptoms whatsoever,the final piece of the jigsaw for me was my job that could be quite dusty (chemicals) at times, I moved three months ago to a more active and clean job......then my breathing turned and hasn't been right since, maybe another example of doing the right thing but ending up worse off ?