Healthy Living - What to expect when you quit smoking

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Healthy Living

What to expect when you quit smoking

After less than 30 minutes

pulse returns to normal.*

blood pressure drops down to normal.*

temperature of hands and feet increase to normal.*

Ater 8 hours:

blood's oxygen level returns to normal.*

carbon monoxide level in blood decreases to normal.*

After 24 hours:

risk of heart attack decreases.

After 48 hours:

sense of smell and taste increase.

nerve endings begin regrowth.

After 72 hours:

breathing becomes easier after bronchial tubes relax.

lung capacity increases.

After 2 weeks to 3 months:

lung ability increases by as much as 30%.

circulation improves.

walking is easier.

After 1 to 9 months:

body's energy level increases

lungs increase their ability to handle mucus, reduce infection and clean themselves.

sinus congestion, coughing, fatigue, shortness of breath decrease.

After 5 years:

death rate because of lung cancer decreases about 50% for the average, one-pack-a-day smoker.

After 10 years:

death rate from lung cancer becomes about equal to that of non-smokers.

risks for other cancers (mouth, larynx, pancreas, bladder, kidney and esophagus) decrease.

pre-cancerous cells are replaced.

NOTE: "Normal" refers to what was an average level for you before smoking your last cigarette, depending on your fitness level and other factors.