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This Is What Happens When You Quit Smoking Cigarettes

This is What Happens When You Quit Smoking Cigarettes

There was a time when cigarettes were smoked by all the cool cats in town.

Not anymore.

With increasing awareness about the dangerous consequences of this habit and the impact it has on your psyche and wallet, statistics show that cigarette smoking is now on the decline among the younger generation.

And though the percentage of smokers is still significantly high, we hope that this article will help you quit smoking once and for all.

So, this is what happens when you quit smoking cigarettes.

1. After 20 Minutes: Your Pulse Will Return To Normal

Nicotine constricts your arteries, and thus, shoots up your pulse by causing heart palpitations.

That's why when you finally decide to quit smoking, the first effect of it is the return of your pulse back to normal once the nicotine starts to leave your system.


2. After 2 Hours: Your Hands And Feet Become Warmer

The peripheries of your bodies (like your limbs and teeth) are the most drastically affected ones by smoking, as the blood circulation to these parts often gets cut off because of severe capillary constriction.

That's why when you quit smoking, within 2 hours, your hands and feet start to turn warmer as the peripheral blood circulation is restored in your body.

Plus, your body's blood pressure starts to normalize at around this point.


3. After 12 Hours: Your Body’s Oxygen Level Is Restored To 50% Capacity

Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas that is released when you burn a cigarette. And when inhaled, this gas binds with your haemoglobin and reduces your blood's capacity to transport oxygen successfully to all the parts of your body.

Since carbon monoxide starts to leave your body only after 12 hours or more, once you quit smoking, your body's oxygen-carrying capacity will start to improve at around this point and you will feel more energetic and active.


4. After 1 Day: Your Risk Of Stroke And Cardiac Problems Starts To Decrease

Since smoking increases your blood pressure and reduces good cholesterol in your body, this habit is directly linked to developing cardiovascular diseases and conditions, like atherosclerosis and stroke.

That's why once you quit smoking, within 24 hours, your body's normalizing blood pressure and oxygen levels reduces your risk of developing heart problems.


5. After 2 Days: Your Sense Of Taste And Smell Returns

Smoking damages the gustatory and olfactory nerve endings, which is why smokers often cannot perceive the smells around them and the taste of the food they are eating.

This starts to reverse within 2 days of giving up on smoking.


6. After 3 Days: You Will Be Hit By Nicotine-Withdrawal

Nicotine almost completely leaves the body within 3 days, which is why you are perky the first two days post-quitting, but suddenly develop withdrawal symptoms on the 3rd day.

These symptoms include increased irritability, moodiness, nicotine craving, and severe headaches.

It's very important to have a healthy support system during this time to help you through your withdrawal because willpower is often not enough during such times.


7. After 1 Month: Your Lung Function Will Improve

Within a month of quitting smoking, you will start to notice an improvement in your lung function.

You will be able to breathe better. You will cough less often. And you will realize that you no longer suffer from shortness of breath after minimal exercising.


8. After 9 Months: You Will Suffer From Less Lung Infections

Your lungs are lined by tiny hair-like appendages called cilia that help move out foreign bodies and irritants from within your lungs and produce mucus to trap bacteria.

Smoking stuns these cilia and prevents them from protecting your lungs. That's why smokers frequently suffer from lung infections.

This will change after 9 months of quitting smoking, as that is enough time for your lungs to heal your cilia and the scars left behind by your bad habit.


9. After 1 Year: Your Risk Of CAD Drops By 50%

CAD, or Coronary Artery Disease, is a condition wherein your coronary arteries develop plaques and become occluded, leading to cardiac ischaemia and heart attacks.

And after 1 year of giving up on smoking, your risk of developing this condition will reduce by almost 50%.


10. After 10 Years: Your Risk Of Dying Of Lung Cancer Reduces By 50%

It takes a long time to heal the damage inflicted upon your body by smoking cigarettes. And after the 10-year mark, your risk of dying of lung cancer will reduce by 50%.

Plus, your risk of developing oral cancer and pancreatic cancer is also reduced significantly.


11. After 20 Years: You Have The Same Risk Of Lung Cancer As A Non-Smoker

20 years can seem like a long time. But if you are in your 20s or 30s right now, you probably have 60 or 70 more years to live (based on the current ability of medical science to keep you alive).

Compared to that, 20 years is nothing when the bargain is your good health.

Share This Article!

It's the second week of 2018 and we are sure a lot of you (or your friends) have quit smoking on your resolution list. If yes, share this article right now, so more people can know about these changes and decide to quit smoking!

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Read more about: smoking cigarettes health wellness
Story first published: Monday, January 8, 2018, 19:00 [IST]