After The Last Cigarette
The Benefits of Quitting Smoking Begin
Excerpts of an excellent by Terry Martin, About.com
What happens inside our bodies when we quit using tobacco? Have all of the years of smoking or chewing caused too much damage for quitting to be of any benefit? Not at all. The human body is amazingly resilient.Within the first 20 minutes of quitting, the healing process begins. The benefits will continue to improve your health and quality of life for years.
It is never too late to quit smoking.
Quit Smoking Benefits:When you quit smoking, the benefits begin within minutes of your last cigarette.
At 20 minutes after quitting:
• Blood pressure decreases
• Pulse rate drops
• Body temperature of hands and feet increases.
At 8 hours:
• Carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal
• Oxygen level in blood increases to normal
At 24 hours:
• Chance of a heart attack decreases
At 48 hours:
• nerve endings begin regrowth
• ability to smell and taste improves
Between 2 weeks and 3 months:
• Circulation improves
• Walking becomes easier
• Lung function increases
Between 1 to 9 months smoke-free:Starting as early as a month after you quit smoking, and continuing for the next several months, you may notice significant improvements in these areas:
• coughing
• sinus congestion
• fatigue
• shortness of breath
And the changes don't stop with improvements to physical health, either. Your confidence will soar as you accumulate more smoke-free time. Breaking the chains of slavery to nicotine addiction is nothing short of empowering.
Deciding to Quit Smoking
It takes courage to put down that last cigarette and quit smoking. Most people feel an intense combination of fear and excitement leading up to their quit date. Feeling afraid to quit smoking is completely normal, and is a by-product of addiction. Don't let that fear paralyze you, however, because the benefits you'll experience once you quit are well worth the work it takes to achieve.