Cigarette smoking is one of the leading causes of preventable death globally, but quitting can be encouraging for smokers' he alth.
Many people fear that it will take a long time to see improvements in their he alth and well-being, but the timeline for seeing real benefits is faster than most people realize.
The he alth benefits begin less than an hour after the last cigarette and continue to improve over time, says medicalnewstoday.com.
Here are some main reasons to quit smoking. Quitting cigarettes means breaking the cycle of addiction and essentially reprogramming the brain to stop craving nicotine. To be successful, smokers who want to quit must have a plan.
The benefits of quitting smoking start less than 1 hour after the last cigarette.
The sooner a smoker quits, the faster the risk of cancer, heart and lung disease, and other smoking-related conditions will decrease.
The benefits of quitting smoking are almost instantaneous. As soon as a person stops smoking, the body begins to recover in the following way:
• In 1 hour
In 20 minutes after the last cigarette is smoked, the heart rate drops and returns to normal. Blood pressure also begins to drop and blood circulation may begin to improve.
• In 12 hours
Cigarettes contain many toxins, including carbon monoxide, which is found in cigarette smoke. This gas can be harmful or fatal in high doses and prevents oxygen from entering the lungs and blood.
Inhalation of large doses in a short time may cause suffocation due to lack of oxygen. After only 12 hours without cigarettes, the body is cleansed of excess carbon monoxide from cigarettes. Carbon monoxide levels return to normal, increasing oxygen levels in the body.
• In 1 day
Just 1 day after stopping smoking, the risk of a heart attack starts to decrease. Smoking increases the risk of developing coronary heart disease by lowering good cholesterol.
Smoking also raises blood pressure and increases blood clots, which dramatically increases the risk of stroke. Less than 1 day after quitting smoking, a person's blood pressure begins to drop, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
In this short period of time, oxygen levels will increase, making physical activity and exercise easier.
• In 2 days
Smoking damages the nerve endings responsible for smell and taste. Less than 2 days after quitting, one can notice their increased sense of smell and more intense tastes as these nerves are healed.
• In 3 days
3 days after quitting smoking, the nicotine levels in a person's body are depleted. Although it is he althier to have no nicotine in the body, this initial depletion can cause nicotine withdrawal.
About 3 days after quitting, most people will experience irritability, severe headaches and thirst as the body readjusts.
• After 1 month
In 1 month, a person's lung function begins to improve. As the lungs heal and lung capacity improves, ex-smokers may notice less coughing and shortness of breath.
Athletic endurance also increases, you may notice a renewed ability for activities such as running and jumping.
• After 3 months
In the next few months after quitting smoking, circulation continues to improve.
• After 9 months
Nine months after breaking the bad habit, the lungs have healed significantly. The delicate structures in the lungs, known as cilia, have recovered from the effects of the smoke on them.
These structures help push mucus out of the lungs and fight infection. At this time, many ex-smokers notice a decrease in the frequency of lung infections because the healed cilia can do their job more easily.
• After 1 year
One year after quitting smoking, the risk of coronary heart disease is halved. This risk will continue to decline.
• After 5 years
Cigarettes contain many toxins that cause narrowing of arteries and blood vessels. These same toxins increase the likelihood of developing blood clots.
After 5 years of not smoking, the body heals enough for the arteries and blood vessels to start dilating again. This expansion means the blood is less likely to clot, reducing the risk of stroke.
The risk of stroke will continue to decrease over the next 10 years as the body heals more and more.
• After 10 years
After 10 years, a person's chance of developing lung cancer and dying from it is half that of someone who continues to smoke. The likelihood of developing cancer of the mouth, throat or pancreas is also greatly reduced.
• After 15 years
15 years after quitting smoking, the probability of developing coronary heart disease is equivalent to that of a non-smoker. Likewise, the risk of developing pancreatic cancer is also reduced.
• After 20 years
After 20 years, the risk of death from smoking-related causes, including lung disease and cancer, drops to the level of a person who has never smoked in their lifetime. Also, the risk of developing pancreatic cancer is reduced to that of someone who has never smoked.
Benefits
Smoking is a harmful habit that can lead to severe he alth complications and death. When a person quits smoking, the body will begin to heal itself naturally and regain the vitality of a non-smoker over time.
Some effects, such as lowering blood pressure, are seen almost immediately. Others, such as the risks of developing lung cancer, heart disease and lung disease, take years to drop down to non-smoker levels.
Quitting smoking reduces risks and improves overall he alth, making it an excellent choice for anyone who has started the habit.
