Researchers from the Wellcome Sanger Institute at College University, London, UK, conducted a study of people who smoked for many years and found that after quitting smoking, healthy cells in these people’s lungs multiplied, reducing injuries caused by smoking and reducing the risk of developing lung cancer.
Previously, quitting smoking was known to disrupt the genetic mutations that cause lung cancer, but this new research brings more positive results on quitting smoking, showing the ability to regenerate lung cells when they are no longer exposed to cigarettes. .
- Researchers at College University London.
- Director of an institute studying the genome and human genetics.
- Who seek to understand what happens to lung cells when exposed to cigarettes.
- Conducted a study in which they analyzed cell mutations in the airways of 16 people.
- Including smokers.
- Ex-smokers and people who have never smoked.
- Including children.
To perform the study’s tests, the researchers collected cells from these people’s lungs by performing a biopsy or brushing the bronchi during a test called bronchoscopy, which is an examination to evaluate the airways by inserting a flexible tube into the mouth and then verifying genetic characteristics by performing DNA sequencing of the collected cells.
After laboratory observation, the researchers found that the healthy cells in the lungs of people who quit smoking were four times larger than those of people who still consumed cigarettes on a daily basis, and that the number of these cells was almost equal to that of people who had never done so. Smoked. Smoked.
In this way, the results of the study showed that when they are no longer exposed to tobacco, healthy lung cells are able to renew lung tissue and the lining of the airways, even in people who have smoked one pack of cigarettes a day for 40 years. Years. . In addition, it has been identified that this cell renewal is capable of protecting the lung from cancer.
Previous studies have already shown that smoking causes lung cancer because it causes inflammation, infections and decreases immunity, leading to mutations in lung cells. However, when you stop smoking, these harmful cell mutations are discontinued and the risk of developing lung cancer is greatly reduced.
These positive effects of quitting are observed almost immediately and with a significant improvement during the time you quit smoking, even in middle-aged people who have smoked for many years. And this new study reinforced this conclusion, but it brought encouraging new results on the importance of quitting smoking, demonstrating the ability of the lungs to regenerate by quitting smoking. See some smoking cessation tips.