Quitting smoking has numerous benefits for your health, social life, appearance, and finances.
Here’s a timeline of the health benefits you can expect after quitting smoking:
Your blood pressure and pulse rate return to normal levels.
The carbon monoxide level in your blood reduces significantly, and your blood oxygen levels improve.
Your risk of heart attack begins to reduce, your circulation improves, exercise becomes easier, and your lung function improves.
Breathing problems and wheezing should improve as lung function increases by up to 10%. The air sacs in your lungs (cilia) regrow, healing some of the damage caused by smoking, and smoking-related tiredness disappears.
Your risk of heart disease, heart attacks, and stroke is now half that of a smoker.
Your risk of stroke reduces to that of a non-smoker.
Quitting smoking can also lead to visible improvements in your physical appearance:
Quitting can help prevent premature wrinkles by improving blood flow and preventing damage to collagen and elastin.
Quitting prevents further teeth staining, reduces the risk of gum disease and tooth loss, and leads to fresher breath and a heightened sense of taste.
By improving blood flow to hair follicles and preventing the lowering of oestrogen levels, quitting can help prevent hair thinning and premature greying.
Quitting can stop the staining of nails and improve oxygen flow, leading to healthier-looking nails.
Quitting improves circulation and lung function, making exercise easier and enhancing overall fitness performance.
Quitting smoking can also have a positive impact on your social life and overall well-being:
Despite the common belief that smoking relieves stress, it actually heightens anxiety and tension. Stress levels decrease after quitting.
Quitting protects the health of those around you by reducing their risk of illnesses associated with second-hand smoke.
