Did my Mom's smoking affect my endurance as an adult?
I’m a 24 year old female, not overweight and in generally good health. My mother died of advanced lung cancer this year brought on by her excessive smoking habit of two or more packs a day for 30 years.
For as long as I can remember, my Mom was addicted to smoking. Unfortunately she also smoked during all of her pregnancies. My brothers and I were all born full-term and healthy but I noticed that I sometimes I have trouble breathing.
I’ve never been diagnosed with asthma but running has always been especially painful. I was almost always the slowest kid in my class and even the obese kids could outpace me at times. Even running a mile would cause me to fight for breath and sometimes cough up blood. And trust me, I wasn’t smoking at ages 5–10.
Now that I’m an adult, I have maybe one cigarette a month when I’m out with friends but this problem has affected me all my life. I’ve gotten more into fitness lately as a way to get healthier and deal with my grief but running remains a challenge. I find that a half hour of brisk walking interspersed with jogging is about all I’m good for at this stage and I feel pathetic for it.
On the outside, my body is somewhat conventionally attractive by society’s standards so this isn’t just a weight or looks thing. I want to be healthy and athletic for once in my life but I’m afraid I never will be because I run out of breath so fast. It’s like my legs and muscles can keep pushing buy my lungs hold me back.
Is it possible that my Mom’s smoking during her pregnancies affected my lung development? Neither of my brother’s are good runners either but the one is 6’8 and very muscular and the other is very overweight so that could be why.
How can I improve my endurance over time?
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15 Answers
I think it’s more likely that secondhand smoke exposure throughout your life has had some influence on your breathing… but your own smoking certainly doesn’t help your lung tissue heal.
I suggest you talk to your primary care physician and request a referral to a pulmonologist.
As @cupcakes suggest, see a pulmonogist and have him measure your lung capacity.
“Spirometry (meaning the measuring of breath) is the most common of the pulmonary function tests (PFTs), measuring lung function, specifically the amount (volume) and/or speed (flow) of air that can be inhaled and exhaled.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirometry
I am not a typical runner. I have trouble with lung capacity and always have. I have worked to improve my breathing and exercise my diahragm.
But build up and wind sprints or interval running helps. If you really want to know if you are affected no one can tell unless you have tests.
I don’t think so. My mom smoked too. She quit when I was little, but my Dad always smoked. I was exposed to second hand smoke all of my life. I haven’t noticed any breathing issues because of it.
If it did, so what? Your mother did not know that it would hurt you. It’s already been done.
You are living your own life. See your doctor and find out if your problem can be fixed.
My Mom smoked all her adult life. My lungs are huge. I’ve run 59 marathons with a PR of 2:36:10 (sub 6 minutes per mile pace). Wow think how fast I could have been if she didn’t smoke. HA!
Both of my parents were heavy smokers my entire life, and I haven’t noticed any health related effects of it.
I have always been the least athletic person I know, but that is due to a pre-diabetic condition and intermittent thyroid malfunction, not second hand smoke.
@marinelife I’m not blaming my mother. Her bad habits aside, she was a pretty good parent in a lot of ways. Though honestly, I do wish she had made more effort overcoming her addiction.
I’m just wondering if smoking during pregnancy can have some affect on the baby’s lungs into adult life.
Yes, it’s possible. Children of smokers who are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke experience: Impaired lung function as they get older http://lancaster.unl.edu/home/indoorair/secondhandsmoke.htm
I’ve had many illnesses and lung problems due to my parent’s heavy smoking when I was growing up.
It sounds like you might have exercise-induced asthma. One of the risk factors is smoking and second-hand smoke exposure, but not specifically smoking during pregnancy.
I’ve had it since I was a little kid, and use an inhaler when I need to. You may want to avoid very ‘bouncy/jumpy’ kinds of exercise (running, aerobics, etc.) – though you can do them if you’ve got it under control, and exercising outside when it’s cold. I smoke. I suck.
I don’t subscribe to blaming your parents for your health problems but who knows? Have you tried a medical diagnosis? That would be best!
@Billster74 What? What your mother ingests while you are in utero can have a HUGE impact on a person. Thalidomide anyone?
@Billster74 I’m not “blaming” anyone, sheesh. It’s bad enough my mother died of smoking-related cancer at the beginning of the year (aged 55) without me holding her accountable post mortem.
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