How long does it take your lungs to heal after 1 cigarette?

Your lungs aren't really damaged if you smoke one cigarette. It is the repetition that damages your lungs.

There's some good news. some bad. First of all, get an accurate damage assessment from your doctor. After all, he can do x-rays. You will have some blackened portions in your lungs, similar to coal miners, but at 6 years, they should be relatively small. These will either heal into healthy tissue, or scar tissue in about as many years as you smoked. Your lung capacity is permanently reduced, but you will still be able to hike the mountain trails as well as your buddies in a few years. The bronchitis will recede, but you will have to watch it to make sure that whenever it returns, and it will periodically, it will not develop into something critical. Your taste and smell will return in about 6 months to a year, and your skin will clear up in the long haul. If you want your teeth back in order, you will have to work with a good dentist and periodontist to undo the damage from the ravages of smoking. It's a mixed bag, but if you are young enough, the healing process will work very well. You will never get 100% respiration, but it could come back in the high 90's. Most of all, you will thank your lucky stars, when you're my age, that you stopped in time. Be of good cheer--it could have been much, much worse. and, of course, good luck. B.