Whether you use e-cigs to help quit smoking or cut down your intake cold turkey, there are so many advantages to breaking nicotine and tobacco’s cycle of addiction. To be successful, you’ll want to have a quit plan in place that will help you overcome sudden cravings or triggers. In addition to having the right support system and determination to keep smoke-free, your body will begin to repair itself in as little as one hour after your last combustible cigarette. So, the sooner you start, the faster you will reduce health risks and other conditions that are related to long-term smoking. What are you waiting for?
While your health and well-being thank you the second you stub out your final combustible cigarette, the body begins to repair itself in the following ways:
After 1 hour
In as little as 20 minutes or as long as an hour after your final smoke, your heart rate returns to normal and your blood pressure begins to drop as your circulation improves.
After 12 hours
The body cleanses itself of excess carbon monoxide just 12 hours without a combustible cigarette. Carbon monoxide is just one of the toxins presently found in cigarettes and it can be fatal in high doses, preventing oxygen from entering the lungs and blood.
After 1 day
A mere 24 hours after quitting, your risk of having a heart attack begins to decrease. This is followed by your cholesterol being lowered, which decreases your risk of a major blood clot or even worse, a stroke. All of the above also contributes to a decrease in heart disease, promoting heart-healthier habits.
After 2 days
An ex-smoker’s sense of smell and taste returns to new heights after two days, as the nerve endings responsible for these senses can replenish and heal in that time.
After 3 days
The nicotine levels in a person’s body greatly deplete after 3 days smoke-free. Keep in mind that while it is healthier to have no nicotine in your body, it’s more important to keep the harmful chemicals associated with tobacco out, so don’t be afraid to use e-cigs to help quit smoking if you’re unable to do it cold turkey.
After 1 month
An ex-smoker’s lung function starts to improve in as little as a month. As the lungs heal, the lung capacity also improves, which helps coughing and shortness of breath, giving a renewed ability for cardiovascular activities.
After 1 to 3 months
Aside from all of the above health factors improving even more, your body’s circulation is greatly heightened during these months.
After 9 months
Your lungs will have significantly healed by this point in your quit-smoking journey. In addition, the delicate, hair-like structures inside of your lungs known as cilia have now also healed to better help your lungs prevent infection.
After 1 year
Your risk of coronary heart disease decreases by half after your one-year milestone. This risk only continues to drop as the months and years go by.
After 5 years
The body’s arteries and blood vessels begin to widen, greatly decreasing the likelihood of a blood clot and/or stroke. This risk continues to reduce after the 5-year milestone.
After 10 years
Your chance of developing lung cancer and dying from it is cut in half after 10 years when compared to someone who has continued to smoke. Also, the likelihood of developing other forms of cancers like mouth, throat, and pancreatic are significantly reduced.
After 20 years
Your risk of death from smoking-related causes, including but not limited to lung disease and cancer, drops to the level of a person who has never smoked in their life.
So, whether you quit completely or reduce your nicotine intake using e-cigs to help quit smoking, today is the day to cut down and make a change
Where are you at in your quit-smoking journey? Drop a comment below to share.
