How long coughing after quitting smoking

Health benefits of quitting smoking over time. Updated November 10, Lifetime smoking history and risk of lung cancer: Results from the Framingham Heart Study. J Natl Cancer Inst.

Lung cancer survival rates. Updated January 29, Preventive Services Task Force. Sitkauskiene B, Dicpinigaitis PV. Effect of smoking on cough reflex sensitivity in humans. Productive cough is an independent risk factor for the "development of COPD in former smokers.

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Overview of Lung Cancer. Gender Differences in Lung Cancer. Quit Smoking. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign Up. What are your concerns? Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles.

Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Related Articles. How Smoking Causes Lung Disease. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Although coughing is not a common symptom of withdrawal from smoking cigarettes, some ex-smokers do develop a cough early on in smoking cessation for a short period of time.

Cigarette smoke paralyzes and damages the cilia, thousands of tiny hair-like projections in our lungs. When you stop smoking, cilia start to function again. Cilia are a protective barrier between the outside world and the delicate tissue of the lungs. The bronchial tubes in healthy lungs are lined with a thin coating of mucus and cilia.

Moving back and forth in unison, cilia clean house by sweeping inhaled pollutants that have been trapped in the mucus layer back out of the body. Once the mucus reaches the throat, it's either coughed or spit out, or swallowed. This work done between cilia and the mucus layer in lungs protects us from a host of respiratory infections and diseases.

Cigarette smoke is made up of thousands of chemicals that have damaging effects on the lungs. It also leaves a sticky yellow coating called tar on everything it touches, including a smoker's teeth, fingers, clothing and furniture—and the inside of the lungs. In the lungs, the buildup of tar shuts down the motion of cilia and causes inflammation in the airways, prompting excess mucus production.

When you stop smoking, cilia gradually start functioning again and the lungs begin the work of moving trapped toxins up and out. If you are concerned about your cough, how long it is lasting, or any other symptom you experience when you quit smoking, don't hesitate to check in with your doctor to have it evaluated.

But there's no reason to suppress a cough with medicines unless it affects your sleep or causes extreme discomfort. All rights reserved. Terms of Use. Coughing more after quitting smoking: What's the deal? At the computer at home — move your desk or redecorate to change the look. After a meal — go for a walk.

After work — exercise or meditate. Before dinner — make your dinner time earlier. With alcohol — change to a different type of drink or hold your drink in your smoking hand. As you plan your next task — breathe deeply. As a reward — listen to music or have a piece of fruit. In front of the television — move the furniture around, hold a stress ball, do some easy stretches. Before bed — have a warm drink or read a book. Here are a few more ideas you can try at any time: Sip a glass of water slowly.

Play with a pet. Call a friend. Play a game on your phone. Ask your partner or a friend for a shoulder massage. Try some gardening. Put on some hand cream. Do a jigsaw puzzle or crossword. Peel an orange. Managing stress when you quit smoking It will take time to settle into new routines and find new ways to deal with stress now that smoking is not an option.

Costs of smoking There is no point dwelling on the amount of money you have already spent on smoking. Benefits of quitting smoking Quitting is the best thing you will ever do for your health. Benefits to your health and life from quitting smoking include: Your sense of taste and smell may improve, so you may enjoy your food more. Exercising to increase your fitness will become easier.

You will be free from the hassles of smoking, such as smelling of smoke, or always having to make sure you have enough cigarettes. You will save thousands of dollars a year that you can save or spend on other things. Your children will be less at risk from bronchitis, pneumonia , asthma , meningitis and ear infections. Help is available to quit If you could do with a hand, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about options to help you quit, or call Quitline for advice and support.

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