Newbies,

Congratulations on quitting! Here is what you can expect in terms of benefits:

Short and Long-Term Benefits

20 minutes after the last cigarette

·                 Blood pressure drops to normal. 

·                 Pulse rate drops to normal.

·                 Hand and foot temperature rises to normal.

8 hours after the last cigarette

·                 Blood carbon monoxide levels drop to normal.

·                 Blood oxygen level increases to normal.

1 day after the last cigarette:

·                 Chances of heart attack and stroke start decreasing.

2 days after the last cigarette:

·                 Sense of taste and smell begin to heighten.

·                 Certain nerve endings begin to re-grow.

·                 Nicotine by-products are removed from the body.

3 days after the last cigarette

·                 Bronchial tubes start to relax, making breathing easier.

·                 Lung capacity begins to improve.

2 to 12 weeks after the last cigarette

·                 Walking and aerobic exercises become easier.

1 month after the last cigarette

·                 Circulation improves.

·                 You experience more energy.

1 to 3 months after the last cigarette

·                 Lung function increases up to 30 percent.

·                 Bronchial cilia begin to re-grow, there is an increased ability to clean lungs, chances of infection are reduced, and pollutants are cleared.

·                 Overall body energy increases.

1 to 12 months after the last cigarette

·                 Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue and shortness of breath decrease.

2 to 4 after the last cigarette

·                 The risk of developing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease reduces by 5%.

1 year after the last cigarette

·                 The risk of developing Coronary Heart Disease reduces by 50%.

2 years after the last cigarette

·                 The risk is reduced for recurrence of ulcers.

·                 The ability for short-term healing is improved.

·                 The risk of death from heart disease declines 24%.

3 years after the last cigarette

·                 The risk of heart attack and stroke approaches that of someone who has never smoked.

5 years after the last cigarette

·                 The risk of developing mouth, esophageal, throat and bladder cancer reduces by 50%.

5 to 15 years after the last cigarette

·                 The risk of stroke reduces to that of someone who has never smoked.

10 years after the last cigarette

·                 Pre-cancerous cells are replaced by healthy, normal cells.

·                 There is a 50% to 70% reduction in the risk of developing lung cancer.

·                 The risk of pancreatic cancer is reduced.

10 to 14 years after the last cigarette

·                 The risk of developing Heart Disease drops to that of someone who never smoked.

15 years after your last cigarette

·                 The risk of developing lung cancer is the same as non-smokers.

·                 For Congestive Heart Disease, the risk reduces to the same as someone who has never smoked.

·                 Life expectancy is as long as that of a non-smoker!

Which benefit are you most looking forward to?

Faryal - Health Educator