What happens to your body after you quit smoking “from the first 20 minutes until

03:00 pm

Friday 23 September 2022

I wrote – Amira Helmy

A recent study concluded that quitters had a 27% lower risk of death from any cause, a 24% lower risk of death from cancer, a 28% lower risk of death from heart disease, and a 30% lower risk of respiratory disease.

And the website “Medical Express” quoted a study conducted by the National Cancer Institute in the United States with the length of follow-up period for quitters, which lasted 19 years, for 159,937 people.

And while quitting smoking can be hard on the body, you will start to benefit once you make the decision to kick the habit, and this is what happens in your body exactly the moment you stop smoking, according to thehealthy.

After 20 minutes: cardiovascular improvement

In less than 20 minutes, the heart rate returns to normal, blood pressure drops, and blood circulation begins to return to normal.

After a few hours: nicotine withdrawal

Nicotine is addictive, and you may experience some mild and temporary symptoms. Severe nicotine withdrawal symptoms can be psychological and physical.

Psychological symptoms can also include cravings for nicotine, mood swings, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and anxiety. Physical symptoms include headaches, sweating, tremors, restlessness, increased appetite, abdominal cramps, and constipation.

These are the first effects you’ll likely feel, within 4 to 24 hours after quitting. These effects will peak on the third day, and gradually decrease over the next three to four weeks, so it takes about a month to break the habit.

After 1 day: Heart attack risk goes down

Cigarette use doubles the risk of a heart attack, and quitting reduces this risk thanks to lower blood pressure, higher levels of oxygen in the blood, and less negative impact on cholesterol levels and the formation of blood clots.

After 2 days: the senses begin to improve

Smoking can impair your senses and reduce your ability to smell and taste.

After just 48 hours without inhaling, you may start to notice an improvement in your ability to taste and smell food.

After 3 days: nicotine is excreted from the body

Symptoms of nicotine withdrawal can appear as headaches, sweating, abdominal cramps, or cravings for nicotine.

After a month: the health of the lungs improves

Smokers often have an unpleasant cough or wheeze when breathing, which many refer to as a smoker’s cough. Quitting smoking will help your lungs recover. “After one month, your lung capacity will improve.

After 3 months: blood circulation has improved

The nicotine in cigarettes constricts the blood vessels in your skin and around your heart, so after quitting blood circulation will begin to improve, as blood vessels return to their normal diameter.

After 9 months: Your lungs can fight infections

After 9 months, lung health noticeably improves thanks to the regeneration of microscopic hair-like structures inside the lungs that help excrete mucus and fight infections.

This may greatly reduce your likelihood of developing certain infections and complications from illnesses, such as influenza and pneumonia.

After 1 year: Your chance of a heart attack is cut in half

Now that your blood vessels have returned to their normal size, your heart rate is back at its safe pace, and your blood pressure is down, your risk of a heart attack is lower than it was when you smoked.

After 5 years, the risk of stroke decreases

The long-term effects of improved heart health and lower blood pressure give you another important benefit: a reduced risk of stroke.

A decade later: Reducing cancer risk

A 2017 study published in Scientific Reports reports that e-cigarettes and vaping may lead to DNA changes and gene mutations that can increase your risk of cancer, so the longer you avoid e-cigarettes, the healthier your body.