Smoking and COPD

What is the connection between smoking and COPD? 

Smoking can cause COPD because, when inhaling tobacco smoke, you are taking in many toxic chemicals into the body that can spread into your bloodstream. These chemicals can cause inflammation in the lining of the lung tissue. If this inflammation of tissue is constant because of smoking, it can cause damage to the lungs and lead to complications such as COPD.

Tobacco smoke can contain carbon monoxide. This harmful substance can displace oxygen, meaning less gets carried around your body. A lack of oxygen travelling around the body can cause lasting damage to organs such as your lungs. It can also increase the amount of cholesterol build-up in your arteries, leading to a higher risk of heart complications, such as a heart attack.

The risk of developing COPD is exceptionally high amongst people who start smoking or were exposed to second-hand smoke at an early age. This is because tobacco smoke significantly slows lung development and is harmful to their growth, leading to a higher risk of lung conditions such as COPD in adult life.

Can smoking weed or vaping cause COPD?

Studies have not found a conclusive connection between smoking cannabis (also known as marijuana or weed) and COPD. However, many of the harmful chemicals found in cigarettes can be found in marijuana smoke, and smoke, ash, and heat are all still damaging to the lung’s lining. This lung damage can increase your risk of COPD.

How long you smoke marijuana may also influence your lung function. A study has found that long-term use of marijuana can cause airflow obstruction and an increase in breathing rate, affecting lung function. Although this doesn’t mean a risk of COPD, these are common symptoms of the condition and could be mistaken for it. This damage can put you at risk of lung infections and bronchitis. It can also aggravate existing lung conditions such as asthma.

Vaping has also not been found to have a definite connection to COPD. E-cigarettes are a helpful tool for helping to give up cigarettes, but they are not entirely risk-free. Vaping can cause inflammation in the lungs, which causes damage over time. More research is needed to find the connection between e-cigarettes and lung conditions.

Symptoms of smoking-related COPD

Although stopping smoking won’t undo previous damage done to your lungs, quitting will help prevent any further damage and improve your quality of life².

Some symptoms of COPD related to smoking include:

• Difficulty breathing during exercise
• Tightness in the chest
• Muscle aches
• Unexplained weight loss
• Wheezing when breathing

If you continue smoking after being diagnosed with COPD, this can cause issues with exacerbations or flare-ups and can quicken the progression of your disease. 

Treatments may also not be as effective if you continue to smoke. This can make managing your condition difficult, leading to a lower quality of life.

Treatment for smoking and COPD 

Quitting smoking is vital for improving your condition, and there are many ways to approach giving up smoking. It's about finding which method works best for you. 

Some methods to help give up the habit include: 

• Nicotine replacement therapy – As cigarettes contain high amounts of nicotine, there are some effective methods to help replace this nicotine. This can include lozenges, patches, or gum.
• Going ‘cold turkey’ – Some people find cutting cigarettes out entirely with no aids is the best way to give up smoking. This can be difficult for some people, as breaking the ritual of smoking can be hard.
• Going to smoking cessation programmes – a healthcare professional can help refer you to a local stop smoking service, where advisers will help support your journey to quitting smoking. The NHS provides further information about how these sessions work.

If you have been diagnosed with COPD, there are many treatment options available to help control your symptoms, depending on your stage. You can learn more about your treatment options here.  

There are many lifestyle changes alongside quitting smoking you can make to help improve your COPD symptoms. One of these changes includes diet. Find out more about what a COPD diet looks like and how improving it can influence your condition in our blog, ‘A COPD diet: improving symptoms through what you eat’.

Frequently asked questions 

- ‘I have COPD, and I’ve never smoked. How is this the case?’ 

Not all COPD cases are caused by smoking, although it is the number one cause. Some other factors that can put you at elevated risk include: 

• Pollution
• Industrial chemicals fumes, e.g. coal, dust, gases
• Asthma
• Recurrent lung infections
• Genetics

- ‘Can you get COPD from passive/second-hand smoke?’ 

Yes, you can. Being around those who smoke, or around general pollutant smoke can put you at an increased risk of COPD. 

- ‘Can I reverse COPD if I quit smoking?’ 

COPD, unfortunately, is not reversible and progresses as time goes on. However, following treatment recommendations, quitting smoking, and improving your lifestyle habits can have the most significant impact on slowing its progression¹⁵. 

- ‘How long do you have to smoke till you develop COPD?’ 

There is no definitive bassline of ‘how long’ you need to smoke before developing a lung condition. However, the longer you smoke, the more at risk you are of developing COPD.