What Happens When You Quit Smoking

What happens when you quit smoking? Your life gets better. A lot better.

Here are some details.

Within the first few hours the intense constriction of your blood vessels begins to relax.

The nicotine from just one cigarette can cause the blood vessels to constrict for up to six hours. This effect goes away quickly when you stop. As your blood vessels relax, your blood pressure decreases and strain is taken off your heart.

Within eight hours the carbon monoxide starts to clear from your blood stream and the oxygen levels in your blood begin to rise. BTW – measuring carbon dioxide levels lets insurance companies know if people who claim to be smoke-free really are.

Over two days you sense of smell and taste improve. You’ll enjoy your food more than you have in years.

Over several weeks, the risk of both heart disease and lung disease start to decrease. The longer you go without cigarettes, the lower the risk becomes.

Go one year without smoking and you cut your risk of heart disease in half. Stay smoke free for 10-15 years and your risk of heart disease will be the same as if you never have smoked.

Your risk of cancer and stroke also decrease dramatically as time goes by.

Unfortunately, if you’ve already developed emphysema the damage can’t be completely reversed. However, stopping smoking will prevent progression and will improve lung function.

In the shorter term (three to twelve months) chronic cough and phlegm production will decrease. Shortness of breath will decrease and exercise tolerance will increase.

You can also expect to have more money in your pocket beginning immediately. I suggest you save the money you’re no longer spending on cigarettes and use at least some of it to reward yourself for giving up smoking.

So that's some of what happens when you quit smoking. Here's a program to help you stop smoking and start noticing these changes:

Quit Smoking Today