FAQs Answered: Does COPD Progress After Quitting Smoking?

If you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you may be thinking about quitting smoking a little more seriously. There are proven benefits to quitting smoking. It can help improve your symptoms and slow the progression of COPD.

After hours, days, months, and years of quitting, there are benefits for your lungs and your body.

Does giving up smoking help COPD?

Cutting down or quitting smoking is the most important thing you can do to change the course of COPD.

COPD is a progressive disease. At any stage of COPD, quitting smoking can prevent further decline in lung function. It can improve your breathing, reduce coughing and chest tightness, and bring down inflammation.

Quitting smoking can actually alter the progression of COPD.

Quitting smoking is a huge challenge. It can be especially difficult for someone with COPD. Studies show people with COPD have a greater dependence on nicotine. There’s also a higher rate of depression in people with COPD. The process of quitting smoking can increase depressive symptoms.

If you’re ready to try quitting, make sure you have the right plan and support in place. A combination of medication and psychological support works best for many people.

Becoming smoke-free can also help manage or prevent other diseases. These include heart disease and lung cancer.

Will shortness of breath go away after quitting smoking?

If you quit smoking, you may start to see improvement in your shortness of breath by 6 months. It may take longer for some people. Quitting smoking can prevent your shortness of breath from getting worse.

COPD makes it difficult to empty your lungs of air when you exhale. Air gets trapped in the lungs so there is less space to bring in new air and oxygen.

Quitting smoking can improve shortness of breath. Practicing deep breathing can also help. Deep breathing helps to strengthen the muscles that control breathing. Breathing out through pursed lips helps you to exhale more fully and push out more air from your lungs.

What happens if you have COPD and still smoke?

Each person will have a different experience with COPD. It’s known that smoking is not good for your lungs, but that doesn’t mean that you are ready and able to quit.

If you continue to smoke, your COPD will progress more quickly compared to someone who doesn’t smoke.

There are treatments to help COPD, but they won’t be as effective if you’re still smoking. Make sure to take medications exactly as directed for the greatest benefit. Treatments can include:

  • Inhalers. There are different types of medications that are given by an inhaler. They can help to open airways, making it easier to breathe.
  • Nebulizers. A nebulizer turns your medication into a fine mist. You can then breathe it in through a mask. This is helpful if you have trouble using an inhaler.
  • Supplemental oxygen. With reduced lung capacity, it can be hard to get enough oxygen from the air. Using supplemental oxygen helps to increase the amount of oxygen you are taking into your lungs. Keep in mind that you should never smoke around oxygen tanks.

The following strategies can also help:

  • Avoid infection. Any infection that affects the respiratory tract is harder to fight off when you have COPD. Get your annual flu shot, wash your hands, and avoid being around sick people to reduce your risk.
  • Breathe deeply. COPD can make it hard to catch your breath. Practicing deep breathing can help you better regulate your breathing. Breathe in slowly through your nose. Breathe out even more slowly through your mouth, using pursed lips.
  • Monitor your health. Make sure to let your healthcare team know if there are changes with your symptoms or any part of your health.

Keep in mind that even if you aren’t able to completely quit, cutting down can still be beneficial.

Research has also shown benefits even if your quit attempt isn’t successful. Any period of time when you are smoke-free can help to slow COPD progression.

How long does it take for breathing to return to normal after quitting smoking?

If there has already been damage to your lungs, it usually can’t be reversed. Quitting smoking can help you to maintain the lung function you still have and prevent further damage. Continuing to smoke would cause your lung function to keep declining.

Quitting also prevents COPD flares. People with COPD may notice their cough and breathing improve within 1 to 9 months.

When people quits moking, they experience the following bodily changes, according to the Canadian Lung Association:

  • After 8 hours of being smoke-free, carbon monoxide levels are half those of a smoker.
  • After 24 hours, carbon monoxide is totally out of your body.
  • After 48 hours, your senses of taste and smell improve.
  • After 2 or 3 months, circulation in your body is better.
  • After 1 year, your risk of having a heart attack goes down.
  • After 10 years, the risk of dying of lung cancer is half that of someone who smokes.

The takeaway

Quitting smoking is not easy but there are many benefits. COPD is a progressive condition. Quitting smoking is the best way to prevent it from progressing. Being smoke-free can help to maintain your lung function. It also reduces your risk of cancer and heart disease.

There are a variety of supports to help you quit. Talk to your healthcare team to come up with a plan once you are ready.

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