The Good News: Damage Caused by Tobacco Use Can be Reversible

The longer a person smokes, the greater the risk of irreversible damage to the airways and lungs. However, quitting smoking can reduce the decline in lung function caused by smoking. One US study showed an improvement in lung function within five years among ex-smokers aged 45-55 while another prospective study of more than 5,000 men and women aged 65 years and older found that smokers who quit, even after the age of 60, recorded better pulmonary function than continuing smokers.