Live better and live longer!
20 minutes after you quit, your blood pressure has already decreased, your pulse rate has dropped and the blood temperature of your hands and feet has increased.
2 hours after quitting, you have significantly reduced the nicotine in your system.
8 hours after quitting, the level of carbon monoxide in your blood drops as the oxygen increases to the normal level of a non-smoker. This is one of the best advantages of quitting smoking, as carbon monoxide robs your muscles, brain and tissues of oxygen.
At 24 hours, your chance of a heart attack has already decreased.
At 48 hours. These will make you smile... a couple of nice little health benefits of quitting smoking are that you will find your sense of smell improved, and as those sensitive nerve endings start regrowing, your taste buds will come alive again.
In 2 to 4 days, all nicotine by-products have gone from your body. That means there is no physical addictive substance left to niggle your brain.
Between 2 to 9 weeks, your circulation improves, walking and exercise will become easier and your lung function increases.
By 3 months, your fertility improves. This is an oft overlooked reason to quit smoking. Men's quality and density of sperm increases and women's chances of conceiving are increased, with less likelihood of miscarriage, or giving birth to babies with higher risks of stillbirth, cot death, premature or low birth weight and lifelong afflictions.
By now, the tar stains on your fingers and teeth will be eliminated.
Within the first 9 months, you will find that you no longer suffer from shortness of breath, and coughing, sinus congestion or fatigue will be rapidly improved.
By 1 year your risk of coronary heart disease is already half that of a smoker!
Also by now, due to increased oxygen, you will have noticeable improvement in your skin and gums. The oxygen goes towards repairing dry skin and premature wrinkles.
After 5 years the risk of lung cancer drops by half. Also your risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas rapidly decreases. And every day thereafter these lifesaving health benefits of quitting smoking increase.
In 5 to 15 years, you will have no higher risk of stroke than that of people who have never smoked!
By 10 years, your chances of coronary heart disease will be virtually the same as that of people who have never smoked. In fact your risk of an early death from all causes virtually disappears and returns to that of people who have never smoked.
Did you know that only 12% of smokers can expect to live to 85, as compared to 69% of non-smokers? Why risk losing even one year of life or being one of the statistical average of smokers and lose 10 years? Or 25 years? Why risk an average of 12 years disability before you die?
If you quit before age 35 your risk is reduced by a dramatic 90% or more, and even if you're over 65 and you quit, your quality of life and life expectancy is significantly increased.
More benefits of quitting smoking
Health benefits aren't the only way smokers can improve their lives. Here's a few more:
- Money. Ah yes, there'll be more in your pocket, that's for sure! Insurance is cheaper for non-smokers too.
- Eliminate fire risk. There are a surprising number of fires caused by smokers, either damaging property, or damaging property and killing or injuring people (often smokers themselves who have fallen asleep).
- More socially acceptable. There are less restrictions and hassle, less looking for a place to smoke, less standing in the cold or heat, less smelly clothes, breath, hair and so on.
