what happens after you quit smoking

When you quit smoking, your body begins to heal almost instantly. Within 20 minutes after the last cigarette, your heart rate and blood pressure drop. Within 48 hours, previously damaged nerve endings start to regrow. Within 72 hours, the tubes through which air moves in and out of your lungs start to relax, making it easier to breathe. Between 3-9 months after quitting smoking, your lung function increases by 10%, which improves any coughing, wheezing, or breathing problems. After 1 year of not smoking, your risk of a heart attack and coronary heart disease becomes half of that of a person who smokes. After 5 years, your risk for cervical cancer and stroke returns to that of someone who does not smoke. After 10 years, your risk of mouth, throat, esophageal, and bladder cancers will be just half of what it was when you smoked. Additionally, you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as cravings, restlessness, trouble concentrating or sleeping, irritability, anger, anxiety, depressed mood, and increase in appetite and weight gain. However, these symptoms tend to come and go over time and will eventually pass. Its important to have a plan in place to overcome cravings and triggers to be successful in quitting smoking.