Paranoid about the effect smoking has had on my lungs...

Lunaarli

I gave up smoking about two years ago (I'm 30)
I had smoked socially (sometimes quite a bit, especially when travelling overseas between 22-27)

I'm now paranoid about my lungs and the irreparable damage I've caused...

How could I have been so stupid.. How could anyone willingly and knowingly put that gunk into their body

I'm not fit by any means, though I'm quite slim.
I walk a good bit but if I was to run for more than a minute, I would keel over..

So this year I've decided to take up jogging/running/cardio..

Does anyone have any tips as to how they've tried to repair (in some way) the damage they've done?!

Vorsprung

Best step to repair is to stop smoking. Better again is exercise. Sounds like you're on top of things!

The lungs have the capacity to repair themselves to a small degree. You are relatively young so you have a good chance of not suffering the ill effects of smoking.

JJayoo

Stop worrying about stupid sh1t. You made a huge improvement to your health you should be proud

listermint

Id imagine because you are new to running this is the reason you are out of breath. You will find your stride with time and practice. Just get started and keep at it. The KM will come in time. (relatively quickly if you stick to it)

Alf Veedersane

You're pretty much doing everything you can to improve your lungs. Including food with Vitamin C and E and omega-3 might help as well but the biggest contributors are not smoking and getting some regular exercise.

zubair

I gave up the smokes 3 years ago (I was 31), it was a major turning point for me, I decided to lose weight and get fit too. Within a month I could feel the difference to my fitness, particalurly my breathing, so the body starts to heal/ recover quickly. I would now consider myself quite athletic and fit (I train regularly and eat well).

You've made the most important change, you'll have no problem with running once you improve your fitness.

huskerdu

At this point, the best thing that you can do for your health is to stop obsessing with the past, the stress will do you more damage.

Live in the present. Eat healthily, find an exercise that you enjoy and keep it up. You are young, enjoy your life.

looksee

Get your blood oxygen checked for a bit of reassurance. I have lived with second hand smoke my entire life (up to about 5 years ago) and I have 100% blood oxygen.

lctake2

The best thing you can do is not ever smoke again. Congratulations on giving up. Don't beat yourself up about the past, what's done is done. I've never smoked in my life and I'd still be breathless if I've tried to jog, it's not necessarily to do with cigarettes.