When you are not smoking, you are giving your body the ability to recover from the harm you do to it. The longer you are not smoking the healthier you will get. Okay, you already know that but what happens in your body when you stop smoking in the short, mid and long run. Here is a little timeline and the (almost) immediate effects of stopping smoking.

20 minutes after you stop smoking your blood pressure will drop back to normal. So does your pulse rate. High blood pressure and pulse rate increases the risk of heart attack. Also the body temperature of hands and feet increases to normal. Are you ready to take these first minutes ? If so, let’s go further.

8 hours after you quit smoking, the carbon monoxide levels in your blood will drop by half. Smoking causes carbon monoxide (combustion) in your lungs, but your lungs need oxygen. Carbon monoxide is a POISON. This is why you can’t breath normally : if you have carbon monoxide in your lungs and blood, you have less oxygen.

24 hours after your last puff, you get rid of carbon monoxide in your body. You have more oxygen now and can think about sport again !

After 48 hours, your body also get rid of nicotine. The risk of having a heart attack is lower. The senses of taste and smell will improve. Shall I remind you how smoke stinks ? There are better taste and smells than the cigarette one. Another effect at this time is the nerve endings are regrowing.

After 72 hours, a nice sequence starts : bronchial tubes will relax, so you will breath more easily. Breathing easily leads to a bigger lung capacity. Breathing better leads to higher energy levels. (Thank you Mr Oxygen !)

From 2 weeks to 6 months after you quit smoking, many things happen. Your blood circulation constantly improves, walking will become easier, your lung functions increase, you will cough less, sinus congestion will decrease.

After 9 months you will see improvements for almost everything told above. You really are getting healthier and you will feel it. Your lungs and your heart will thank you.

After 1 year your risk of having a heart attack will drop by half.

After 5 years the risk of having a lung cancer decreases.

After 10 years the risk of lung cancer and other cancers is the same as a non-smoker.

After 15 years your can expect a longer and healthier life : the risk of heart attack is the same as a non-smoker.

Don’t you think that’s worth it ? So, what are you waiting to stop smoking now ? By stopping smoking you are also stopping killing yourself, or at least you will lower the risk of diseases and heart attack (not only for you, but also for your circle).