Question for Cigarette Smokers...?

Question

I've been smoking cigarettes for about two years, on and off. Sometimes I'll smoke a whole pack in a day, other times I can go two or three days without a cigarette. It varies.

I also smoke marijuana regularly (PLEASE don't vote down this question for me saying that...I'm not trying to start trouble, I'm just looking for medical help and that's an important fact to include).

I occasionally have trouble breathing. Nothing alarming...it's just uncomfortable and a little worrying. Here's a rundown of what I experience:

1) I usually wake up each day with my chest feeling 'stiff' and a bit achy, and feel like I have to take several deep breaths to 'stretch my lungs out'.

2) On other occasions, I'll feel an aching feeling in my chest after/during a cigarette.

3) Sometimes I have trouble taking a deep breath and almost have to 'gulp' or yawn to catch a breath.

4) When taking a deep breath (especially when my chest feels tight), I experience a mild shooting pain on one side of my chest when taking a deep breath.

(I often experience more than 1 symptom at a time.)

My question is, simply: any other smokers get these same problems? Is this normal, or do I have a problem? I can't really imagine that so many millions of people would smoke if they experienced these same symptoms.

(And any responses saying, "Just quit, you idiot!" will be deleted and reported for abuse of guidelines.)

Thanks, anyone.

My only real question

Answer 1

Better get it checked out and have it not be anything to serios than continue worrying that it is, and if it is something serios then atleast you know. But I have had days like the ones you mentioned but i usally feel better the next day or even minutes after these experiences.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

doesnt sound to goood.

Answer 4

Yes, I feel number 4 too sometimes.  Not number 1, or 2, or 3 though.  Yes, you do have a problem.  Obviously I'm not a doctor so I can't say what the problem is, but its definitely something in your lungs.

Answer 5

welcome to the smoking world . .

would you say your a casual smoker?

*Just To Add*

If you are addicted then its gonna be a lot harder to go without . . but if you can go 2 or 3 days without one surely you could try to break the habit and go another 3 days,

see if you notice any difference after a month, if not then yes i would go see a doctor if not now,

i always wake up finding it hard to breathe when i wake up  but a few minutes outside i feel fresh

the aching during or after a cigarette im not too sure about, usually (back in the day) would just get a head rush and "feel" i could not breathe but it was just me thinking that

after smoking for sucha time i can longer take a full breathe,  im seriously on the verge of quitting now but its not a case of saying "right from today . . no more" you yourself have to be physically and mentally ready to take this challenge,

but yeh i would go and see a doctor if these conditions dont go away, im not a docotr myself so i cant really comment but i know from 1st hand smoking experiance its not normal . . .better to be safe than sorry!!

Answer 6

yes i can smoke almost a 40 pack a day n i know its bad n im short of breathe lack of appitite and all that goes with it but when u smoke marijuana (i dont) do u mix tabacco with it coz there ur always smoking tabacco n it makes it worse maybe u should fully cut down coz these are signs i know my self i have to give up aswell

Answer 7

Sounds like asthma (the shooting pain sounds like something worse), so at the risk of getting reported by you im gonna say the obvious thing...quit smoking you idiot. I have smoked for 15 years and only have short breath after running. Smoking with asthma could kill you real quick

Answer 8

That's the early signs of emphysema.

Your lungs have little "air sacks" that expand when you breathe. When you smoke they loose their elasticity and they tend to fill with mucus.

I quit smoking in January and feel tremendously better. I would say quit at least one of your smoking habits. Smoking MJ is 10 times more damaging than cigarettes but you probably smoke less so it is probably equal.

Once you quit smoking your lungs will begin to heal. But.....if you keep it up you will get emphysema.