Smokers are often asked to quit smoking to avoid all the potential dangers and costs of smoking. However, we seldom discuss what the smoker will actually gain or regain once they stop. Here’s what happens when a smoker quits and never picks up another cigarette from this very moment.
20 Minutes After Quitting
Smoking temporarily raises blood pressure. Once you quit, your heart rate drops and your blood pressure will return to its normal levels fairly quickly.
8 Hours After Quitting
Smokers have higher carbon monoxide levels in their blood, which makes it harder for your blood to carry oxygen to important organs in the body such as the heart and brain. 8 hours after you’ve quit smoking, carbon monoxide levels in the blood should be reduced by 50% and normal oxygen levels should be restored.
2 Days After Quitting
This is the magic spot when most of the nicotine should have been flushed by your body. You’ll have a lower risk of heart attack at this point, and will start to be able to smell and taste things much better than before.
3 Days After Quitting
When you quit smoking your bronchial tubes are no longer constantly irritated, so they will start to relax. As a result you’ll start to find it easier to breathe. You’ll also find that you have more energy than before.
2 Weeks After Quitting
Smoking damages your body’s blood circulation, clotting vessels and arteries, sometimes to the extent of totally cutting off blood flow. People get their limbs amputated over this. Thankfully two weeks after you’ve stopped smoking your blood circulation should start to improve.
The withdrawal symptoms you usually experience when you quit smoking are actually a good indicator that your body is recovering from your nicotine addiction. So if you’re ever in the middle of severe nicotine withdrawal symptoms, remember all the benefits you’re gaining from quitting smoking and stick with it.
Be sure to check tomorrow’s post What Happens When A Smoker Quits – Long Term Benefits, to find out what benefits you get from quitting smoking in the long run.
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[...] try a different approach – what can quitting smoking do for you? Yesterday we discussed the benefits of quitting smoking in the short term. If that wasn’t enough to convince you to stop smoking, here are some long term benefits of [...]