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What Causes Increased Wheezing After Quitting Smoking?
I quit cold turkey on January 17, 2015 after 55 years of smoking. Now, 6 months later I think that I wheeze more now than when smoking. Also, I find I have to cough out heavy mucus about 10 times a day. Mucus that seems to be in the high part of my chest and difficult to dislodge. Will the wheezing and coughing gradually abate, or, am I stuck with it?
posted on
Fri, 31 Jul 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sun, 31 May 2020
Answered on
Thu, 4 Jun 2020
Last reviewed on
Hello,
After quitting, the cilia start recovering. As the cilia recover, they will better clear mucus and phlegm from your lungs, which can cause coughing that can take 1 to 9 months to decrease. Some people may also notice that they cough more than usual when they initially quit smoking.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Blerina Pasho, General & Family Physician
After quitting, the cilia start recovering. As the cilia recover, they will better clear mucus and phlegm from your lungs, which can cause coughing that can take 1 to 9 months to decrease. Some people may also notice that they cough more than usual when they initially quit smoking.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Blerina Pasho, General & Family Physician
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