Starting emphysema treatment in the earliest (mild) stage, when you may have a nagging cough and increased mucus production, may help you maintain a better quality of life for a longer period of time. Emphysema is a disease in which tiny air sacs inside the lungs (alveoli) are damaged, causing shortness of breath. It primarily…
Quitting smoking can help preserve your current lung function. It may also alter the course of your chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) progression and reduce some symptoms. 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…
Quitting cigarette smoking cold turkey means cutting all nicotine products abruptly. Tips to help you quit include exercising, chewing gum, and changing your routine, among others. There are two general approaches to quitting smoking: Abrupt: This is the cold turkey method, which is when you stop using nicotine products in one shot. Gradual: This is when you…
The time nicotine stays in your system depends on how long and how often you’re exposed to it. It also depends on whether you smoked it, chewed it, or inhaled it second-hand. Whenever you smoke cigarettes or vape, chew tobacco, or inhale secondhand cigarette smoke, nicotine is absorbed into your bloodstream. From there, enzymes in…
You can still give blood even if you smoke, drink, or use cannabis regularly. A few things might disqualify you, like certain medications or underlying conditions. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), nearly 5 million Americans receive blood transfusions each year. There are many reasons why someone could need a blood transfusion, such as:…
Emphysema can cause chest tightness, shortness of breath, and fatigue. Emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that’s caused by damage to the air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs. This damage makes it hard for the lungs to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide, which can lead to shortness of breath, coughing, and…
New research shows that nicotine blocks estrogen production in the female brain, which could make it more difficult to quit. Studies have shown that women have a harder time quitting smoking than men do. New research indicates that nicotine blocks the production of estrogen in women’s brains, which could explain why it’s more difficult for…
Studies have shown that women have a harder time quitting smoking than men do. New research indicates that nicotine blocks the production of estrogen in women’s brains, which could explain why it’s more difficult for them to quit. While more research is needed to fully understand the underlying mechanisms, the findings suggest that nicotine may…