How Smoking Affects Your Lungs and COPD

Graph of the effect of smoking on lung function over time

Adapted from Fletcher CM, Peto R (1977). The natural history of chronic airflow obstruction. BMJ, 1(6077): 1645–1648.

The graph illustrates the change in lung function over time for smokers, nonsmokers, and smokers who quit. Each point on the line represents the average level of lung function for each group at a particular age. Peak lung function is achieved at age 25 and it then decreases.

For example, at 60 years of age, a nonsmoker has nearly 100% lung function, while a smoker has 50% and a smoker who quit at age 45 has about 75%.

Credits

ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical ReviewerE. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical ReviewerKen Y. Yoneda, MD - Pulmonology
Last RevisedNovember 29, 2011
By: Healthwise StaffLast Revised: November 29, 2011
Medical Review: E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Ken Y. Yoneda, MD - Pulmonology

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