I'm one of those dreaded "converted ex-smokers" which are worse than lifetime non-smokers, and it's definitely my defect -- I have to hate smoking in order to keep from doing it every time I have a drink on Friday night with the buds! :)
But I do know I feel better not smoking. I saw this article on a website, while I was looking for cures to that awful bronchitis that has nailed me and everyone else out here (I rarely fall ill, even when everyone else 'has it', but this was a rare exception). It was enlightening!
This is what happens to your body, etc. after you stop smoking and how long it takes for the changes to kick in.
Courtesy of MamasHealth.com:
|
Time |
What Happens |
|
Immediately |
- The air around you is no longer dangerous to children and other adults.
|
|
20 minutes |
- Blood pressure drops to normal levels.
- Your pulse drops to normal levels.
- The temperature of your hands and feet increase to normal.
|
|
8 hours |
- Carbon Monoxide level in your bloodstream drops to normal.
- Oxygen level in your bloodstream drops to normal.
|
|
24 hours |
- Your chance of having a heart attack starts to decrease.
|
|
48 hours |
- Your senses of smell and taste improve
|
|
2 to 12 weeks |
- Circulation improves
- Breathing improves
|
|
1 to 9 months |
- Coughing decreases
- Sinus congestion decreases
- Shortness of breath decreases
- Energy levels increase
- Ability of lungs to self clean and reduce infection increases.
|
|
5 years |
- Risk of having a stroke is similar to a non smoker
|
|
10 years |
- Life expectancy is similar to a nonsmoker
- Risk of dying from lung cancer is 1/2 of a smoker
- Risk of developing oral, throat, esophageal, bladder, kidney and pancreatic cancer decreases.
|
|
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