When you give up smoking, your body begins to heal almost instantly. Here are some things that happen when you quit smoking:
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Immediate effects: Within 20 minutes of quitting smoking, your blood pressure starts to normalize, and within 8 hours, your bodys oxygen levels increase.
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Withdrawal symptoms: Common symptoms include cravings, restlessness, trouble concentrating or sleeping, irritability, anxiety, and increased appetite and weight gain. These symptoms will pass as your body gets used to not smoking. Relaxation and deep breathing can help with restlessness and trouble concentrating or sleeping. Irritability, anger, anxiety, and depressed mood are all normal and will pass. An increase in appetite and weight gain may last several weeks, but planning ahead can help.
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Long-term effects: After 3-9 months of quitting smoking, you can take deeper, clearer breaths, and youll cough less and have more energy. After 1 year, your risk of heart disease drops to half that of a smoker, and after 15 years, your risk of death from smoking-related causes drops to the level of a person who has never smoked in their life.
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Mental health: Quitting smoking can boost your mental health and wellbeing after as little as 6 weeks of being smoke-free. However, in the first days and weeks after quitting smoking, the emotional ups and downs could feel like a rollercoaster ride. Some people describe giving up smoking as feeling like theyre losing a friend. As long as you understand that this is just a stage and what youre feeling is normal, you can ride through the hard times and settle into feeling more confident without cigarettes.
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Cravings: Almost everyone who smokes regularly has cravings or urges to smoke when they quit. They may be mild or can sometimes feel overwhelming. Figuring out how to deal with cravings is one of the most important things you can do to stay successful. Some ways to manage cravings include using a quit-smoking medicine, keeping busy and distracting yourself, being active, spending time with friends who dont smoke, and remembering why you are quitting.
