HealthCare

How long does it take for your lungs to heal after 10 years of smoking cigarettes?

Dr. Paul Courier: Quit smoking, heal your lungs, and live longer!

Hi. It's dr. Paul Courier. First of all, congratulations on stopping smoking. It's one of the most important things you can do for your health. And stopping smoking is associated, with living longer, and also decreased risk of cancers. We think that the risk of decreased cancer has really declined significantly over the first 10 to 15 years after stopping smoking, but it continues to decrease after that, your symptoms of coughing and sputum production, usually will stop after a few Months of stopping smoking and I think you're going to really feel better as well. One consideration is that if you've smoked the equivalent of two packs per day, for more than 10 years, you may be a candidate for having screening cat-scans to make sure that you're not developing a lung cancer and you should definitely talk with your doctor about that and talk with your doctor about all this. Congratulations on taking this huge step for your health.

Congratulations on stopping smoking! The risk of decreased cancer has significantly declined over the first 10-15 years after quitting and your coughing and sputum production will stop after a few months. If you have smoked two packs a day for more than 10 years, talk with your doctor about having screening cat-scans to make sure you're not developing a lung cancer.

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Congratulations on quitting smoking! It's a significant step towards improving your health and increasing your lifespan. Quitting smoking is associated with a decreased risk of cancer and overall better health outcomes.

After 10 years of smoking, the risk of developing cancer starts to decline significantly, and this trend continues over time. Symptoms such as coughing and sputum production usually improve within a few months of quitting smoking, leading to an overall improvement in how you feel.

If you have smoked the equivalent of two packs per day for more than 10 years, it may be advisable to discuss with your doctor the possibility of having screening CT scans to monitor for any potential lung cancer development. Your doctor will be able to provide personalized advice and guidance based on your specific situation.

Once again, congratulations on taking this important step towards better health. Keep up the good work!

Can you explain the difference of right sided heart failure and left sided heart failure?

Left vs. right heart failure: Understanding the crucial differences

Hi, it's Dr. Paul Currier answering the question, can you explain the difference between left and right-sided heart failure? So the first thing to know is that the left side of the heart pumps blood that's coming from the lungs with oxygen out to the rest of the body. And the right side of the heart takes blood that's coming from the body that needs oxygen, pumps it to the lungs. When the left side of the heart begins to fail, what happens is that there's buildup of fluid in the lungs as one of the first manifestations, oftentimes shortness of breath, chest discomfort, drops in oxygen levels. When the right side of the heart fails, there also can be shortness of breath, low oxygen levels, and there tends to be swelling in the legs as well. Now, the thing that's challenging is that the left side of the heart failing can actually lead to the right side of the heart failing as things back up further. So it can be a complicated and interactive situation.

Left sided heart failure results in a buildup of fluids in the lungs and shortness of breath, while right sided heart failure results in swelling in the legs, shortness of breath, and low oxygen levels. Left sided heart failure can lead to right sided heart failure.

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To explain the difference between left and right-sided heart failure, let's start with the left side of the heart. The left side pumps oxygenated blood from the lungs to the rest of the body. When the left side fails, fluid can build up in the lungs, leading to symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest discomfort, and low oxygen levels.

On the other hand, the right side of the heart receives deoxygenated blood from the body and pumps it to the lungs to be oxygenated. When the right side fails, symptoms may include shortness of breath, low oxygen levels, and swelling in the legs.

It's important to note that left-sided heart failure can eventually lead to right-sided heart failure as fluid backs up further in the circulatory system. This interaction between the two sides can make the situation more complex.

How does the body's immune system respond to long-term use of corticosteroids to manage chronic inflammatory diseases?

Long-term corticosteroid use: immune suppression & potential side effects

Hi, it's Dr. Paul Currier answering the question, how does the body's immune system respond to long-term use of corticosteroids to manage chronic inflammatory diseases? So steroids or corticosteroids suppress the immune system and that's the reason they're effective in inflammatory conditions. But because they suppress the immune system, they also cause other effects. They can predispose you to getting certain kinds of infections, they can weaken the bones, they can make it more difficult for wounds to heal, and they can also cause effects like raising blood pressure or increasing body fat. So in general, we like patients to be on the lowest dose of corticosteroids that is effective to control their inflammatory condition. And as with all of these issues, talk with your doctor about the dose and the treatment that's right for you.

Corticosteroids suppress the immune system and can cause side effects like increased infections, weakened bones, difficulty healing wounds, increased blood pressure and increased body fat. Doctors recommend taking the lowest dose that is effective for controlling the inflammatory condition.

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The body's immune system responds to long-term use of corticosteroids to manage chronic inflammatory diseases by being suppressed. Steroids, or corticosteroids, are effective in treating inflammatory conditions because they suppress the immune system. However, this suppression can have other effects on the body.

Long-term use of corticosteroids can increase the risk of certain infections, weaken bones, impair wound healing, and lead to elevated blood pressure and increased body fat. To minimize these effects, it is generally recommended that patients be on the lowest effective dose of corticosteroids to control their inflammatory condition.

It is important to have a discussion with your doctor about the appropriate dose and treatment plan that is suitable for your specific situation.

What can someone do about a lingering cough?

Unlocking the Secrets: Identify and Address Your Lingering Cough Now

Hi, it's Dr. Paul Currier answering the question, what can someone do about a lingering cough? So the first thing to do is to try to understand why you're having that cough. Now if it's just that you had a cold and the cough is persisting for an extended period of time, we'll even say sometimes six to eight weeks after a cold, if the cough is getting better, can be normal, that's fine. But if it's a cough that's just been ongoing with no clear reason, we think of three top reasons for that cough. Those are drainage from the nose, acid reflux, and asthma. And going to see a doctor to help get one of those diagnosed could be very helpful. There's also other causes, and if there's other symptoms associated with a cough like producing sputum, let's say, or losing weight, those definitely need to be investigated.

A lingering cough should be investigated by a doctor to rule out drainage from the nose, acid reflux, and asthma. Other symptoms such as producing sputum or losing weight should also be taken into consideration.

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To address a lingering cough, it's important to understand the underlying cause. If the cough persists for an extended period after a cold, it may be considered normal as long as it is improving. However, if the cough continues without a clear reason, there are three common factors to consider: nasal drainage, acid reflux, and asthma. Consulting with a doctor to diagnose and address these potential causes can be beneficial.

It's worth noting that there may be other causes for a lingering cough, especially if there are additional symptoms such as producing sputum or experiencing weight loss. In such cases, further investigation is necessary.

How do moments of joy punctuate your life on a daily basis?

Discovering Daily Joy: Meditation and Gratitude Techniques

Hi, it's Dr. Paul Currier answering the question, how do moments of joy punctuate life on a daily basis? For me, it's all about being open to the joy that's all around me and I use two techniques for that. One is meditation. I use an app specifically called Waking Up, which I find useful. There are many different options for that. It helps me to be more present in the moment, to be able to appreciate joy around me. Second, I do daily gratitude journaling. I'll write three things for which I'm grateful on a daily basis. That also helps me to be open to seeing so much of what is beautiful around me and what's joyful.

For me, I use meditation and daily gratitude journaling to be open to the joy that is around me.

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Hi, I'm Dr. Paul Currier and I want to share how moments of joy punctuate my daily life. It all comes down to being open to the joy that surrounds me, and I have two techniques that help me with that.

Firstly, I practice meditation using an app called Waking Up. This app, among many others, helps me be more present in the moment and appreciate the joy that exists around me.

Secondly, I engage in daily gratitude journaling. Each day, I write down three things that I am grateful for. This practice helps me stay open to the beauty and joy that is present in my life.

By incorporating these techniques into my daily routine, I am able to recognize and embrace moments of joy that punctuate my life on a regular basis.

What is a cardiopulmonary exercise test, or CPET?

Understanding CPET: Unveiling the Secrets Behind Shortness of Breath

Hi, it's Dr. Paul Curry, you're answering the question, what is a cardiopulmonary exercise test or CPET? So a CPET is a specialized kind of stress test that allows us to help determine why you might be feeling short of breath or determine what your exercise capacity is. Now if you're doing one of these tests, you'll be walking on a treadmill or riding on an exercise bike, and you'll be having your lung function measured by breathing in through specialized equipment, having your vital signs monitored, and in some cases, actually having your heart function monitored as well. And there's different levels of these tests, all the way from non-invasive to invasive monitoring, where we actually have a catheter in to measure the pressures of the vessels that go to the heart and the pressures inside the heart. And all of this can help sort out why you might feel short of breath and the relative contributions of things like the heart, the lungs, the muscles, and the vessels. If you're feeling short of breath, it's a test to consider.

A cardiopulmonary exercise test, or CPAP, is a specialized stress test to help determine why someone is feeling short of breath and measure their exercise capacity. It involves walking on a treadmill or riding an exercise bike, having lung function measured, monitoring vital signs, and in some cases even monitoring heart function through a catheter.

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A cardiopulmonary exercise test, or CPET, is a specialized stress test used to determine the cause of shortness of breath or assess exercise capacity. During the test, you will walk on a treadmill or ride an exercise bike while your lung function is measured using specialized equipment. Your vital signs will be monitored, and in some cases, your heart function may also be assessed. There are different levels of CPET, ranging from non-invasive to invasive monitoring, which involves measuring pressures in the heart and blood vessels using a catheter. This comprehensive test helps identify the factors contributing to shortness of breath, such as the heart, lungs, muscles, and blood vessels. If you are experiencing shortness of breath, a CPET may be a test worth considering.

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Dr. Paul F. Currier is a pulmonologist in Boston, Massachusetts and is affiliated with Massachusetts General Hospital. He received his medical degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

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