If you’ve ever smoked, you may wonder, do lungs recover after smoking? The answer is yes, it is possible. Lungs can recover after smoking, though how much they can heal depends on how long and how often you smoked before you quit.
After you quit smoking, lungs begin to recover and show several signs of healing. According to the National Institute of Aging, National Institutes of Health (NIH), these signs include:
- A decrease in inflammation of the airway.
- Cilia, small hair-like organelles in the lung that help filter toxic substances in the airway, beginning to work again.
- Improved lung functioning.
- Improved breathing capacity.
To answer the question of whether lungs recover after smoking, if you smoked for a long period, with high intensity, or both, you may have inflicted a level of damage on your lungs that will never entirely heal. Even then, stopping smoking at any point lowers your odds of developing lung cancer.
How To Detect Lung Cancer
Whether you smoked in the past or not, knowing the signs of lung cancer is important for your overall health. Mayo Clinic lists some signs of lung cancer, including:
- Persistent headaches.
- Shortness of breath.
- Hoarseness.
- Coughing up blood.
- Chest pain.
- Unexplained weight loss.
- A persistent cough.
- Bone pain.
While smoking drastically increases your risk of developing lung cancer, exposure to other carcinogenic substances also causes lung cancer.
Risk of Lung Cancer in Non-Smokers
Asbestos and radon gas are two of the primary causes of lung cancer in non-smokers. According to the NIH, asbestos accounts for nearly 10,000 deaths per year, while radon gas accounts for another 20,000.
Asbestos Fibers Cause Potentially Cancerous Changes in the Lungs
When forced to fight foreign particles, the cells in the lungs begin to change. If lung cells wage this battle for too long, the cells can become cancerous. Just as lungs fight to filter cigarette smoke, they fight against asbestos particles that you breathe in unintentionally. These particles can eventually cause cancerous lesions and lung cancer in the form of mesothelioma. They can also cause asbestosis or other forms of lung cancer.
Despite its known danger, asbestos—which is both fire and corrosion-resistant—exists in countless buildings, especially those built before 1970 in the United States. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists potential areas in the home containing asbestos, including:
- In insulation, which may be in walls, attics, around pipes, and around heat-emitting appliances such as furnaces and stoves.
- In certain roofing materials including shingles.
- In vinyl flooring.
- In heat-resistant fabrics.
- In certain textured paints.
Some groups may live at a greater risk of developing asbestos-induced lung cancer, including:
- Pipefitters.
- Anyone who works closely with insulation, such as A/C installers and rodent removal professionals.
- Construction workers.
- Demolition crews.
If you or a loved one were exposed to asbestos and subsequently developed lung cancer, you may be entitled to financial awards for your losses.
Radon’s Silent Presence in Your Home or Workplace
Radon, a naturally occurring gas, can invade living spaces, working quarters, and places of leisure and poison you without warning. Its odorless and colorless qualities allow it to go undetected, which can lead to its concentration to dangerous levels.
Employers, building managers, municipalities, and landlords have a responsibility to their patrons to test for radon gas regularly.
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How a Lawyer May Help With Your Case
If you are a non-smoker and believe that somebody exposed you to a harmful substance that caused your lung cancer, consider hiring a lawyer. While no one can guarantee an award, possible compensation might include:
- Medical expenses you have incurred due to your cancer, from diagnostic testing to treatment and future treatment.
- Compensation you have lost due to your inability to work.
- Pain and suffering that you have endured.
- Any punitive damages that the court awards to you.
The circumstances of your case may entitle you to further damages, especially if a wrongful death claim applies.
Call Our Team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Today
The team of lawyers at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm aims to ensure that you endure no more financial loss than you already have. Our clients pay nothing up front or out of pocket, and we only collect a fee if we secure compensation on your behalf.
Call us today at (800) 217-6099 for a free consultation.
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