My friend the ex-smoker, breath still bad??

[jagged]

My friend smoked for over 20 years and according to her she quit almost 12 months ago. The thing is I can still smell that "smokers breath" on her when she exhales deeply around me.

Is it possible for a person who smoked for so many years still carry "smoky smelling" lungs for a long time after quitting smoking? How long does it take for the lungs to get back to the pinky fresh of a non smoker.

Thanks

[Sethos]

Bad news Jagged the time required for the lungs to repair themselves to that wonderful pinky color is about 7 years....

~Sethos

[ZokesPro]

Another reason why I don't smoke.

[SpiralDragon]

well i smoke and i dont care .... i am a dragon i breath fire.... i have to smoke... no but deriously i have been meening to quite.... just havent ben feeling up to it yet...

[jagged]

I did a google and found out it will likely take several YEARS for the smoker to eventually get back to ALL non-smoker health levels. rats.

After you quit...

Within 20 minutes : Your blood pressure and pulse rate drop to normal. Body temperature of hands and feet increases to normal.

Within 8 hours : Carbon monoxide level in the blood drops to normal and oxygen levels in blood rise to normal. Smoker's breath disappears.

Within 24 hours : Chance of heart attack decreases.

Within 48 hours : Nerve endings start regrowing. Ability to taste and smell enhances.

Within three days : You'll breathe easier.

Within two weeks to three months : Circulation improves. Walking becomes easier. Lung function increases up to 30%.

Within one to nine months : You'll cough less. Sinus congestion and shortness of breath decrease. The cilia that sweep debris from your lungs will grow back. You'll feel more energetic.

Within one year : Excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker.

Within two years : Your heart attack risk drops to near normal.

Within five years : Lung cancer death rate for average former smoker (of one pack a day) decreases by almost half. Stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker five to 15 years after quitting. Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, and esophagus is half that of a smoker's.

Within 10 years : Lung cancer death rate is similar to that of a nonsmoker's. Precancerous cells are replaced. Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas decreases.

Within 15 years : Risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmoker's.

[UtwigMU]

:-Y But I'd say she might still light one up now and then.

Anyway, all the cool people were/are smokers. (jk, apologism)

[KvHagedorn]

You got it right when you said WERE..

Let's see.. what famous people that people consider cool have died of lung cancer? Well, I can name three off the bat..

Humphrey Bogart
John Wayne
Yul Brynner

Can anyone else add to this one?