Good News for All Cigarette Smokers
You might think it's too late to quit smoking, but here is some good news from the American Cancer Society:
As soon as you snuff out that last cigarette, your body will begin a series of physiological changes.
-- Within 20 minutes: Blood pressure, body temperature and pulse rate will drop to normal.
-- Within eight hours: Smoker's breath disappears. The carbon monoxide level in blood drops, and the oxygen level rises to normal.
-- Within 24 hours: Chance of heart attack decreases.
-- Within 48 hours: Nerve endings start to regroup. Ability to taste and smell improves.
-- Within three days: Breathing is easier.
-- Within two to three months: Circulation improves. Walking becomes easier. Lung capacity increases up to 30 percent.
-- Within one to nine months: Sinus congestion and shortness of breath decrease. Cilia that sweep debris from your lungs grow back. Energy increases.
-- Within one year: Excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a person who smokes.
-- Within two years: Heart attack risk drops to near normal.
-- Within five years: Lung cancer death rate for average former pack-a-day smoker decreases by almost half. Stroke risk is reduced. Risk of mouth, throat and esophageal cancer is half that of a smoker.
-- Within 10 years: Lung cancer death rate is similar to that of a person who does not smoke. The precancerous cells are replaced.
-- Within 15 years: Risk of coronary heart disease is the same as a person who has never smoked.
You might think it's too late to quit smoking, but here is some good news from the American Cancer Society:
As soon as you snuff out that last cigarette, your body will begin a series of physiological changes.
-- Within 20 minutes: Blood pressure, body temperature and pulse rate will drop to normal.
-- Within eight hours: Smoker's breath disappears. The carbon monoxide level in blood drops, and the oxygen level rises to normal.
-- Within 24 hours: Chance of heart attack decreases.
-- Within 48 hours: Nerve endings start to regroup. Ability to taste and smell improves.
-- Within three days: Breathing is easier.
-- Within two to three months: Circulation improves. Walking becomes easier. Lung capacity increases up to 30 percent.
-- Within one to nine months: Sinus congestion and shortness of breath decrease. Cilia that sweep debris from your lungs grow back. Energy increases.
-- Within one year: Excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a person who smokes.
-- Within two years: Heart attack risk drops to near normal.
-- Within five years: Lung cancer death rate for average former pack-a-day smoker decreases by almost half. Stroke risk is reduced. Risk of mouth, throat and esophageal cancer is half that of a smoker.
-- Within 10 years: Lung cancer death rate is similar to that of a person who does not smoke. The precancerous cells are replaced.
-- Within 15 years: Risk of coronary heart disease is the same as a person who has never smoked.
