What is Smoking & Lungs?
Smoking tobacco — cigarettes, bidis, hookah — is the leading preventable cause of lung disease. Smoke damages the cilia that clean the airways, inflames the airway lining and destroys the delicate air sacs.
Smoking-related lung diseases include COPD (emphysema and chronic bronchitis), lung cancer, certain interstitial lung diseases and a higher risk of TB and infections. Stopping smoking at any age reduces risk.
Common symptoms
- 'Smoker's cough' — a persistent morning cough with phlegm
- Breathlessness on exertion
- Wheezing
- Frequent chest infections
Possible causes & risk factors
- Active smoking of cigarettes, bidis, cigars or hookah
- Second-hand smoke exposure
- Smokeless tobacco increases other cancer risks
When should you consult a pulmonologist?
- You smoke or have smoked and have any breathing symptoms
- You want support to quit smoking
- You would like a baseline lung function assessment
Diagnostic investigations
Your evaluation is tailored to your symptoms and history. It may include:
- Spirometry
- Chest X-ray and, in eligible individuals, low-dose CT
- DLCO for suspected emphysema
Available treatment approaches
- Behavioural counselling for smoking cessation
- Nicotine replacement therapy and other medicines to support quitting, when appropriate
- Treatment of COPD or other diagnosed lung disease
- Vaccinations and pulmonary rehabilitation
Treatment is individualised. The options above are general information; your doctor will recommend what is appropriate for you after assessment. Outcomes vary from person to person.
Frequently asked questions
No. Stopping smoking at any age slows the decline of lung function and reduces the risk of heart disease, lung cancer and other illnesses.
E-cigarettes are not risk-free and their long-term effects on the lungs are still being studied. In India, the sale of e-cigarettes is prohibited. Discuss evidence-based quit methods with your doctor.
