Quitting smoking facts and benefits

  Kicking the tobacco habit also offers benefits that you’ll notice immediately and some that will dev

Nicotine Withdrawal

When smokers try to cut back or quit, the absence of nicotine leads to withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal is both physical and mental. Physically, the body is reacting to the absence of nicotine. Psychologically, the smoker is faced with giving up a habit, which is a major change in behavior. Both must be dealt with if quitting is to be successful.

Withdrawal symptoms can include any of the following:

* dizziness (may only last 1-2 days in the beginning)
* depression
* feelings of frustration and anger
* irritability
* trouble sleeping
* trouble concentrating
* restlessness
* headache
* tiredness
* increased appetite

These symptoms can lead the smoker to again start smoking cigarettes to boost blood levels of nicotine back to a level where there are no symptoms.

If a person has smoked regularly for a few weeks or longer and abruptly stops using tobacco or greatly reduces the amount smoked, withdrawal symptoms will occur. Symptoms usually start within a few hours of the last cigarette and peak about 2 to 3 days later. Withdrawal symptoms can last for a few days to several weeks. For information on coping with withdrawal, see the section, "How to Quit."

When Smokers Quit – What Are the Benefits Over Time?

20 minutes after quitting: Your heart rate drops.
(US Surgeon General’s Report, 1988, pp. 39, 202)

12 hours after quitting: The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
(US Surgeon General’s Report, 1988, p. 202)

2 weeks to 3 months after quitting: Your circulation improves and your lung function increases.
(US Surgeon General’s Report, 1990, pp.193,194,196,285,323)

1 to 9 months after quitting: Coughing and shortness of breath decrease; cilia (tiny hair like structures that move mucus out of the lungs) regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection.
(US Surgeon General’s Report, 1990, pp. 285-287, 304)

1 year after quitting: The excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker’s.
(US Surgeon General’s Report, 1990, p. vi)

5 years after quitting: Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker 5-15 years after quitting.
(US Surgeon General’s Report, 1990, p. vi)

10 years after quitting: The lung cancer death rate is about half that of a continuing smoker’s. The risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, cervix, and pancreas decrease.
(US Surgeon General’s Report, 1990, pp. vi, 131, 148, 152, 155, 164,166)

15 years after quitting: The risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmoker’s.
(US Surgeon General’s Report, 1990, p. vi)
Visible and Immediate Rewards of Quitting

Quitting helps stop the damaging effects of tobacco on your appearance including:

* premature wrinkling of the skin
* bad breath
* stained teeth
* gum disease
* bad smelling clothes and hair
* yellow fingernails

Kicking the tobacco habit also offers benefits that you’ll notice immediately and some that will develop gradually in the first few weeks. These rewards can improve your day-to-day life substantially:

* Food tastes better.
* Sense of smell returns to normal
* Ordinary activities no longer leave you out of breath (climbing stairs, light housework, etcetera.)

The prospect of better health is a major reason for quitting, but there are others as well.

About the author:


http://www.cancer.org

More health information - More smoking information