Will quitting smoking reverse all the damage it has done to my body?
Quitting smoking is the very first step to regaining your health. While not everything may be reversed or cured instantly, your body will slowly start regaining normalcy. For instance when you first stop smoking, you will notice that you will be able to taste food better, be more sensitive to smells, not have a dry mouth and be free of a sore throat.
According to a study, quitting has a number of other immediate and long term benefits. Here is how your body will benefit:
Within the first 20 minutes your heart rate and blood pressure drop down to normal levels. In the next 12 hours the carbon monoxide content in your blood becomes normal, and in the next two to twelve weeks the blood circulation to your lungs will increase and become better – improving the overall functioning of your lungs.
After a few months, this is what will happen:
Within one to nine months incessant coughing and shortness of breath will get better.
And finally, after a few years, you’ll notice changes in all your body’s functions. For instance; within 1 year your risk of coronary artery disease goes down by half, in 5 years your risk of suffering from a stroke reduces by almost half and after 10 years your lung cancer risk falls to 50% when compared to a smoker’s risk. Moreover you will also be at a lesser risk of suffering from cancers of the mouth, throat, oesophagus, bladder, cervix and pancreas.
And in 15 years you will be as healthy as a non-smoker. This time line — although general – can be bettered by making alterations in your lifestyle. You could start exercising, eating healthy and being stress free.
As an added bonus, the earlier you quit the better for you. A study found that if you quit at about 30 you can gain almost 10 years of life expectancy.
Now that you know how you will benefit, here is how you can do it:
Quitting is easier than you think – if you follow a simple plan. All you need to do is follow these five D’s of quitting – Delay, Distract, Drink water, Deep breaths and Discuss.
Source: The Health Site
Published: 11 Mar 2014
