When your body is smoke-free it can start to repair the damage that has been done by years of smoking.
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Quitting timeline
20 minutes Your blood pressure and pulse rate return to normal.
8 hours Nicotine and carbon monoxide levels in blood reduce by half and oxygen levels return to normal.
24 hours Carbon monoxide eliminated from your body. Lungs start to clear out mucus and other smoking debris.
48 hours Congratulations! Your body is now nicotine-free. And have you noticed how your sense of taste and smell have improved?
72 hours Your breathing becomes easier, bronchial tubes begin to relax and energy levels increase.
2-12 weeks Circulation is now improved throughout your body. It’s easier for you to walk and exercise.
3-9 months Lung efficiency is up by 5-10%. Breathing problems are fading away. Say goodbye to coughing, shortness of breath and wheezing.
5 years Risk of heart attack falls to about half that of a smoker.
10 years Your chance of getting lung cancer is now half that of a smoker. Your chance of having a heart attack is now the same as someone who never smoked.
There are over 4,000 chemicals in cigarettes, and 51 of them are known to be carcinogenic. A carcinogen is something that causes cancer. What cancers are caused by smoking?
Nicotine withdrawal symptoms
Physical withdrawal from nicotine is temporary, but it can be uncomfortable while it lasts. Quitter’s flu is a term used to describe this phase of smoking cessation because nicotine withdrawal symptoms often mimic a cold or a mild case of the flu. Understanding what to expect when you quit smoking will help you move through this stage more easily.
The following list contains commonly reported symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. Most people experience some of these, but rarely all of them. Each person goes through this phase of recovery from nicotine addiction a little differently. But for most people, these discomforts are short-lived.
Cravings to smoke
Irritable, cranky
Insomnia
Fatigue
Inability to concentrate
Headache
Cough
Sore throat
Constipation, gas, stomach pain
Dry mouth
Sore tongue and/or gums
Check with your doctor if you’re concerned about a physical reaction you’re having to smoke cessation, or if nicotine withdrawal symptoms persist.
