Quitting smoking is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. It is like gifting yourself a new lease on life. There are a very wide range of benefits that one can get by quitting. It improves breathing, heart health and general overall health along with saving money and making you smell good. It prevents risks of various diseases like cancers, heart disease, allergies and emphysema for you and those around you. It creates a better and healthier environment at home and leads to a better quality of life.
Quit smoking benefits – time-line
Right from the moment you quit smoking, the body starts healing itself and there are some very evident changes internally and externally. You will start noticing these changes from the minute you quit.
- 20 minutes: You heart rate, body temperature and blood pressure will slowly return to normal levels.
- 12 hours: Nicotine levels decrease and the carbon monoxide levels in body are almost at normal levels.
- 48 hours: Irritability and mood swings reduce and your senses of taste and smell begin to improve as the nerve endings start healing.
- 1 week: Cravings will reduce to about three times a day. Body nicotine will be completely flushed out and its metabolic residues will be minimal. Lungs start functioning better.
- 2 weeks to 3 months: Lungs function is back to almost normal and mood swings, anger and irritability due to withdrawal are almost completely gone. Risk of heart attacks starts reducing.
- 9 months: Congestion in lungs and coughing are down to a minimum. Lung function is more efficient and there are minimal problems with breathing. Risk of lung infections are lowered.
- 1 year: Risk of heart diseases and stroke are almost half of that of a smoker.
- 5 years: Heart health is normal and risk of strokes and heart attacks is same as that of a non-smoker. Risk of heart disease is also cut by almost 50 percent.
- 10 years: Risk of other cancers has gone down substantially. Lung cancer risk is down by almost half.
- 15 years: Risk of heart disease is the same as that of a person who has never smoked. All other body functions are normal.
This is proof that quitting smoking is not something that has been hyped but has been proven to reduce and even completely negate the effects of smoking over time. This should also prove inspiring for those who are struggling with the habit and need a reason to quit for good.
