I am one who calls himself a never smoker, even serving in the Army overseas. However,
working 25 years ago, in a smoky workplace for 4 years was enough to cause a lung inflammation such that I developed pnuemonia which required anti-biotics for 6 weeks to quell the mucous in both lungs to prevent an infection which could have been fatal. Subsequent exposures to tobacco smoke required a repeat of the series of antibiotis to permit the pnuemonia to clear. However, 25 years after the lung problems, I am still very hypersensitive to second hand smoke, even now am vulnerable to pnuemonia should I be careless to allow myself to be exposed to second hand smoke. My lungs are quite good, I think and have good respiration. This was an acquired illness, which was brought on by exosure to an irratating agent, which tobacco smoke is.