A question

[M27nda]

Guys I posted this on a thread about smoking on a Facebook page

Does anyone here have the answer? X

[2greys]

The answer is quite technical and long winded. To put it in a very basic way it is to do with a type of white blood cells called Neutrophils that attacks infections, they can also cause damage to the aevioli. Smoking kick starts the process off, making the lungs more susceptible to infections, once the damage is done you are left with this weakened immune system and the damage snowballs with more infections that then produces more Neutrophils which causes more damage and a yet a still weaker immune system. On and on. Then there is air pollution which also has plays a part with further infections and destruction of the lungs.

There is a thread on this here about this, with links:

pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/arti...

Of course Neutrophils are very important for fighting infections all over the body, so stopping them being produced altogether is not really an option. A quandary I'm afraid, but possibly answers your question.

[M27nda in reply to 2greys]

Am I wrong in thinking that damaged aevoli repairs after time ? Thank you for your reply x

[2greys in reply to M27nda]

The damage is permanent. The lungs cannot heal themselves.

[M27nda in reply to 2greys]

Ok thank you x

[Tia4209]

Lungs decline in function with age so everyones lungs decline, some Doctors believe that if you stop smoking then the rate of progression slows down to that of

a non smoker.

As 2 Greys has said infections can cause progression so quitting smoking at an earlier stage could also help as less damage leaves you slightly less prone to infection.

[2greys]

Basically, in a ideal world, the progression would slow down to that of a non smoker. But that is only really true if you do not get any chest infections. The damage has been already done though and you are already disadvantaged with a greater "lung age" to start with and a compromised immune system.

Continuing to smoke will really speed up the progression of the disease, smoking is an irritant and the lungs will produce much more mucus, hence the smoker's cough. The excess mucus can harbour bacteria and produce a constant, low level infection that the body will try to control by producing more of those white blood cells, (more lung destruction) every now and again that bacteria will gain the upper hand and you end up with a bad chest infection that requires treatment. So you are given antibiotics and steroids.

Here comes another quandary, too many antibiotics can result in the bacteria becoming resistant to them, and the steroids given to reduce inflammation can weaken the immune system even further, it can become a vicious circle which is why quitting to smoke is so important.

Spend a day with someone who has very severe COPD and I will guarantee that you will have no problem in quitting cold turkey, after being so frightened at what you will see, seeing what your future could have in store for you if you don't quit. You are far too young to have to fight that sort of battle each and every day without any respite at all.

[Ern007]

COPD damage caused my smoking can't be reversed. The point of stopping smoking is you slow down at times greatly the progress the disease makes. I was a total mess until 24 years or so ago, the progress of COPD slowed down 90%. One you damage you lungs to any extent - It will gradually get worse but if you stop smoking it can take many years before disabling and symptoms can improve many fold. Also less prone to chest infections. In short lungs can't repair themselves... Stopping smoking in most cases reduces the rate COPD progresses and greatly helps symptoms,,

[M27nda]

Thank you

Today I started cutting down with the stopping fully at the end of February

From tomorrow there will be no smoking in the home ( 3 of us smoke )

Please note I smoke weed and use rolling tobacco for that purpose

I can’t do cold Turkey I can cut down by only using a certain amount and making that smaller as it goes along

Please do not judge me for this it is what it is

I stopped smoking normal cigarettes when I was diagnosed

My mother has end stage copd she retains carbon and is on a nippy machine at night for 8 hours

I have seen it and it is scary but I never thought it would be me

In my eyes I feel what I’m doing is best I hope that comes across correctly x

[HungryHufflepuff in reply to M27nda]

Everyone has to quit in a way that works for them. You know what will work for you. And it's still not easy! It's one effort that is so worth making though. Good luck to you 🤞

[powderpuff in reply to M27nda]

Sounds like a good plan, one you’ve thought about & is right for you - everything crossed it all goes well.

Don’t be worried about doing what you have to or getting support from wherever you can!

Take care & good luck 😉

[Ern007 in reply to M27nda]

Hi M27nda

This is the problem with "weed" says I just after a dose of Morphine but seriously weed needs tobacco which is unfortunate. Might I make a suggestion? If you can afford stop the rolling tobacco and buy Silk Cut - Lot lower in tar and nicotine. I used this brand before I gave up all those years ago. Might seem a small step but you would notice the difference. Just my opinion, I don't believe vaping helps stop, in fact inhaling fluid in lungs could be dangerous to someone with COPD - Sure did not help a friend of mine with severe COPD, she cought and wheezed with cigarettes - She vaped for England cut out all the cigarettes and unfortunately she passed away.. Good luck and being honest over weed helps people to understand.. We don't judge not at all. In fact three smoking in same house must be harder - so good luck and try your best and if you fail, try again and again....

[M27nda in reply to Ern007]

Thank you so much x

I used to smoke silk cut silver years ago when I was hugely overweight and asthma was bad

I’m in my cutting down part now have already swapped to a lite tobacco

Managed 2 days so far on restricted amount which I’ve been quite hard on myself with how much I’ve allowed but it has to be done

[Ern007 in reply to M27nda]

Best of luck. It is hard no point in saying otherwise, in the end it is life preserving. It is great you have gone on low tar tobacco, that was my plan and it worked.

[Spring1]

Good luck to you. It certainly isn’t easy but keep trying, you will get there and we all find different ways to do it. I suppose the thing is to not give up giving up. Your plan of action sounds good to me.

[M27nda]

Thank you guys means a lot xx

[2greys]

Just in case you have missed it, there is further information to what I discussed about Neutrophils and along with further hope for us with a treatment.

healthunlocked.com/blf/post...