Ex-Smoker - Am I still at risk?
Posted , 5 users are following.
I'm 28 years old and have recently given up smoking after a steady reduction over several years. I've smoked for seven years probably averaging two cigarettes a day. At most I smoked 10 a day and for the past year only one a week but have now stopped completely. This is obviously the biggest step I can take to improve my health but I still find the possible consequences of my years of smoking terrifying.
Am I still at risk of premature death? What are my chances of developing conditions due to my smoking past?
Conditions like COPD are particularly worrying for me. I'm a semi-serious cyclist and ride thousands of miles a year. I've had asthma since childhood (which is now very well controlled) so can imagine the debilitating effects of such an illness. Developing a condition like that and facing years of slow decline where I would become less and less able to ride my bike make me feel extremely depressed.
Obviously the cancers and heart disease are also very scary and something I think about everyday.
What are my chances? Is there any more I can do improve my health?
0 likes, 3 replies
Reglois samuel46617
Posted
They say that giving up smoking will add years to your life and after 20 years it will be as if you never smoked and you were not a heavy smoker. Well done for giving up the dreaded weed, sounds like you have a pretty healthy life style. If smoking caused cancers and heart disease in every body I would definitely have that as I was a 40 a day smoker for 25 years. My lung diseases are primarily caused by my old work place, poisoned by zinc chloride (now used in chemical warfare) I do also have emphysema but not too severely and yes this was probably caused by my years of heavy smoking.
Enjoy life, eat healthily, exercise and don't smoke and you will be fine but no one can predict the future,
worrying and pondering about that can make you ill !!!!
barbara79178 samuel46617
Posted
Congrats on reducing & then quiting!! I don't think you have much to worry about. You're young & active riding your bike.
Best of Luck to you. Do not worry & stop thinking about all of that. You've already done the best thing!!!
Barb
AlexandriaGizmo samuel46617
Posted
Congratulations, to have made this life changing decision at 28 instead of 48 say and as you where obviously a light smoker you have just brought your life expectancy back to as if you have never been a smoker so long as you never start again, I so envy you and wish I had quit years ago instead of only ten, be kind to your self and think of yourself as a non smoker now and enjoy your long smoke free life