2023-12-22 12:53:55
In smokers who do not yet suffer from what is commonly called “smoker’s disease”, lung damage is often more severe than expected, a study from Antwerp University Hospital showed on Friday.
Antoine Denis 22-12-23, 1:53 p.m. Last update: 22-12-23, 2:45 p.m. Source: with Belga
Patients with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Editor’s note), also called “smoker’s lung” disease, have severely damaged airways. Researchers from UAntwerpen looked at the state of the lungs of “fit smokers”, that is to say those not suffering from COPD.
The results reveal that in many of these “fit” smokers, the lung damage is as severe as that of a patient with recent smoker’s disease. “We would never have dared to think that this would be so worrying and that smokers in better shape would therefore be at least as bad as new COPD patients,” emphasizes Professor Stijn Verleden.
Completely destroyed airways
The researchers looked in particular at the small airways in the pulmonary alveoli and the lungs of around forty patients. Micro-CT images reveal that, even in patients without COPD, 35 to 40% of the small airways are already completely destroyed. The lung alveoli also suffer significant damage.
“Some smokers get good test results and do not have COPD,” continues the professor. “But they slip through the cracks. After their medical examination, they continue to smoke happily, even though they may be just on the verge of contracting the disease. Many of these patients eventually develop COPD, which remains incurable.”
“Don’t think you are safe”
Stijn Past
Scientists knew that smoking damaged everyone’s lungs. What remained unclear was the extent of the damage inflicted on the small airways. “Our findings should encourage smokers to think,” concludes the professor. “Don’t think you’re safe just because you don’t yet have the symptoms of a long-term smoker.”
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