Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: Anais on 05/12/2010 20:30:04

Title: Do smokers lungs recover whilst sleeping?
Post by: Anais on 05/12/2010 20:30:04
Anais asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Do smokers lungs recover whilst sleeping?

What do you think?
Title: Do smokers lungs recover whilst sleeping?
Post by: SteveFish on 05/12/2010 21:00:31
The only thing that recovers overnight is some of the damage to the airways (trachea, bronchi and bronchioles). Some mechanical damage takes much longer to recover. The tars and carbon deep in the lungs can take decades to be partly removed and genetic and mechanical damage to the lung (alveolar) tissue itself is cumulative and can't be repaired.
Title: Do smokers lungs recover whilst sleeping?
Post by: CliffordK on 06/12/2010 13:52:34
A diurnal cycle of on again/off again smoking won't do a whole lot.  Perhaps only give a slight reprieve for the lungs.

They say that after a person quits smoking, the lungs can actually get worse for a few weeks before getting better as the lungs start clearing all the built up goop.

As far as sleeping, one of my neighbors had really bad emphysema.  Dragging an O2 bottle around while mowing the yard.

Anyway, he was put on a CPAP (or BiPAP) at night.  And, it made a tremendous change in his quality of life.  Very soon afterwards,he was able to wean off of most of his daytime oxygen supplements.

The masks wouldn't necessarily help everyone, but they can be beneficial in some cases.