can a smoker ever have good cardio after quitting?

[TONY-T]

What the title says. im 29 years old and have been smoking since i was 14 and have asthma, my cardio is absolute rat shit. I cant sprint more than 50 yards without feeling like im going to die. Is it possible for someone like me to ever have decent cardio?

[IrishAssassin]

not sure how this works but a guy i work with smokes a pack a day and does triathalons - so it is in fact possible but i don't know how it would difffer for individuals

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by IrishAssassin

not sure how this works but a guy i work with smokes a pack a day and does triathalons - so it is in fact possible but i don't know how it would difffer for individuals

Yeah, I know guys who are quite fit who still smoke a lot.

[younggunz]

you will be able to get into shape, but you will never be able to obtain the same V02 max that you could have if you hadn't smoked......That being said...it will just take you a bit longer to find your wind.

[Dan's Knuckles]

As you are still relatively young, assuming you haven't done any permanent damage to your cardiovascular system, you should be able to get into good shape.
The real question is how did you manage to smoke with asthma?

[Stonebreaker]

If you're a smoker, you'll find a way no matter what the obstacle. Hell, at one point I had walking pneumonia and was still working through a pack a day.

The answer to the original question is "yes."

Quit smoking.

Starting running.

[ThePitBull32]

Smoking has obviously damaged your lungs, but you can still get train your lungs to work to their optimal level. Quit smoking!

[noise666]

Originally Posted by ThePitBull32

Smoking has obviously damaged your lungs, but you can still get train your lungs to work to their optimal level. Quit smoking!

+1

My wife quit smoking a year ago, and has already improved her cardio a lot. She claims (I can concur) that Yoga has helped her a lot. It's the breathing involved with Yoga that has helped me in my Muay Thai and BJJ training.

Just keep it up, and your lungs will improve. I don't smoke and cardio is my biggest enemy. It's gotten a lot better, but I'm still no Sean Sherk, ha!

Good luck!

[liquid!]

I used this as inspiration when I quit smoking 2 months ago. You will also notice that lung function will not improve overnight. Its a long road back.

What happens after you quit smoking?


20 MINUTES ———————————————
• Blood pressure drops to normal
• Pulse rate drops to normal
• Body temperature of hands and feet increases to normal

8 HOURS ————————————————————
• Carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal
• Oxygen level in blood increases to normal

24 HOURS ———————————————————
• Chance of heart attack decreases

48 HOURS ———————————————————
• Nerve endings start regrowing
• Ability to smell and taste is enhanced

2 WEEKS TO 3 MONTHS ————————————
• Circulation improves
• Walking becomes easier
• Lung function increases up to 30 percent

1 TO 9 MONTHS ————————————————
• Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, and shortness of breath decrease
• Cilia regrow in lungs, increasing their ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce infection
• Body's overall energy increases

1 YEAR ————————————————————
• Excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker

5 YEARS ———————————————————
• Lung cancer death rate for an average former smoker (one pack a day) decreases by almost half
• Stroke risk is reduced to that of a non-smoker five to 15 years after quitting
• Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, and eso****us is half that of a smoker's

10 YEARS ————————————————————
• Lung cancer death rate is similar to that of a non-smoker
• Precancerous cells are replaced
• Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, eso****us, bladder, kidney, cervix, and pancreas decreases

15 YEARS ———————————————————
• Risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker

[noise666]

Originally Posted by liquid!

I used this as inspiration when I quit smoking 2 months ago. You will also notice that lung function will not improve overnight. Its a long road back.

What happens after you quit smoking?


20 MINUTES ———————————————
• Blood pressure drops to normal
• Pulse rate drops to normal
• Body temperature of hands and feet increases to normal

8 HOURS ————————————————————
• Carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal
• Oxygen level in blood increases to normal

24 HOURS ———————————————————
• Chance of heart attack decreases

48 HOURS ———————————————————
• Nerve endings start regrowing
• Ability to smell and taste is enhanced

2 WEEKS TO 3 MONTHS ————————————
• Circulation improves
• Walking becomes easier
• Lung function increases up to 30 percent

1 TO 9 MONTHS ————————————————
• Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, and shortness of breath decrease
• Cilia regrow in lungs, increasing their ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce infection
• Body's overall energy increases

1 YEAR ————————————————————
• Excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker

5 YEARS ———————————————————
• Lung cancer death rate for an average former smoker (one pack a day) decreases by almost half
• Stroke risk is reduced to that of a non-smoker five to 15 years after quitting
• Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, and eso****us is half that of a smoker's

10 YEARS ————————————————————
• Lung cancer death rate is similar to that of a non-smoker
• Precancerous cells are replaced
• Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, eso****us, bladder, kidney, cervix, and pancreas decreases

15 YEARS ———————————————————
• Risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker

Very good find. I also ready somewhere or heard somewhere that if you at 30 years old or earlier, these facts are more accurate. After 30, the deterioration is a significant amount higher/faster.