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bryanlarsentoday at 2:47 AM2 repliesview on HN

Smokers don't magically undo the damage they did to their lungs after they stop smoking. Stunned might be hyperbole, but it is at least a little bit surprising.


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anon48293today at 4:08 AM

> “ Smokers don't magically undo the damage they did to their lungs after they stop smoking”

Except that they do undo the damage.

“ After 15 years, your chances of getting lung cancer are almost the same as someone who has never smoked.”

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lung-cancer/prevention/

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zdragnartoday at 3:21 AM

"Stunned" isn't really a scientific term. It's the sort of editorializing you should expect to come from people who aren't the scientists themselves. More than hyperbole, it is classic click bait.

Also, quitting smoking definitely eases a number of symptoms, especially if you're not at the point of chronic emphysema. The reduction of inflammation triggers alone after a bit of time is fairly significant. Less coughing, less mucus buildup, etc.

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