There are varying opinions on the benefits of quitting smoking. Some reports say that no matter when a person quits they will almost immediately cut their risk of dying from a smoking related disease. Other reports believe that even smoking one cigarette decreases your lifespan. The answer is probably in between but I have seen countless instances of former smokers who have quit and gone on to live very long and healthy lives well into their 80's and 90's.
It is my opinion that as long as you quit smoking before you contract a smoking related illness, your body will eventually revert back to that of a non smoker. The key here is that you have to quit before you contract one of those deadly smoking related diseases.
The speed at which your body heals when you quit smoking is amazing. While your addiction takes time to cure, the benefits of quitting are visible instantly. When you quit smoking, keep this with you and take note of all the benefits you are experiencing as a non smoker.
After you put out that last cigarette you will begin to see the following benefits:
20 minutes after quitting
Your heart rate and blood pressure drop.
The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
Your circulation improves and your lung function increases.
Coughing and shortness of breath decrease; cilia (tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs) start to regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection.
The excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a continuing smoker’s.
Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, and bladder are cut in half. Cervical cancer risk falls to that of a non-smoker. Stroke risk can fall to that of a non-smoker after 2-5 years.
The risk of dying from lung cancer is about half that of a person who is still smoking. The risk of cancer of the larynx (voice box) and pancreas decreases.
The risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker’s.
It is my opinion that as long as you quit smoking before you contract a smoking related illness, your body will eventually revert back to that of a non smoker. The key here is that you have to quit before you contract one of those deadly smoking related diseases.
The speed at which your body heals when you quit smoking is amazing. While your addiction takes time to cure, the benefits of quitting are visible instantly. When you quit smoking, keep this with you and take note of all the benefits you are experiencing as a non smoker.
After you put out that last cigarette you will begin to see the following benefits:
20 minutes after quitting
Your heart rate and blood pressure drop.
- (Effect of smoking on arterial stiffness and pulse pressure amplification, Mahmud A, Feely J. Hypertension. 2003:41:183)
The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
- (US Surgeon General’s Report, 1988, p. 202)
Your circulation improves and your lung function increases.
- (US Surgeon General’s Report, 1990, pp.193, 194,196, 285, 323)
Coughing and shortness of breath decrease; cilia (tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs) start to regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection.
- (US Surgeon General’s Report, 1990, pp. 285-287, 304)
The excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a continuing smoker’s.
- (US Surgeon General’s Report, 2010, p. 359)
Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, and bladder are cut in half. Cervical cancer risk falls to that of a non-smoker. Stroke risk can fall to that of a non-smoker after 2-5 years.
- (A Report of the Surgeon General: How Tobacco Smoke Causes Disease - The Biology and Behavioral Basis for Smoking-Attributable Disease Fact Sheet, 2010; and Tobacco Control: Reversal of Risk After Quitting Smoking. IARC Handbooks of Cancer Prevention, Vol. 11. 2007, p 341)
The risk of dying from lung cancer is about half that of a person who is still smoking. The risk of cancer of the larynx (voice box) and pancreas decreases.
- (A Report of the Surgeon General: How Tobacco Smoke Causes Disease - The Biology and Behavioral Basis for Smoking-Attributable Disease Fact Sheet, 2010; and US Surgeon General’s Report, 1990, pp. vi, 155, 165)
The risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker’s.
- (Tobacco Control: Reversal of Risk After Quitting Smoking. IARC Handbooks of Cancer Prevention, Vol. 11. 2007. p 11)
Good luck on your quit smoking journey. You will succeed and you will notice all of these above benefits. Stay committed and enjoy your new life as a non smoker.
Hi Warren,
ReplyDeleteBenefits of quitting smoking are enormous as you mentioned but so many people fail when it comes to smoking cessation. I liked how you estimated the benefits as per the time frame.
Best wishes,
Anirudh Bahadur
P.S. Very informative post. :)
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