Deciding to move away from tobacco is a life-changing decision, but the effects experienced during this change do not compare to the health benefits that will follow. The human body has an incredible capacity to heal itself, even for those who have been a regular smoker for an extended period of time.
Going tobacco free will see your senses of taste and smell improve, so mealtimes will become far more enjoyable. The appearance and condition of skin and teeth will improve significantly and will continue to improve for as long as the body is allowed to go without traditional tobacco products. For those who are planning to start a family, fertility levels with increase significantly, as will the potential for a problem-free pregnancy and a healthy baby.
If you are interested in learning about the many other ways your body starts to recover as soon as you give up tobacco products, please read some of the points below, provided by NHS Smokefree;
After 20 minutes without tobacco- Your pulse rate will return to normal
After 8 hours without tobacco- Oxygen levels in the blood will rebalance to normal and carbon monoxide levels will reduce by half.
After 48 hours without tobacco- By this time, your body should be completely free of carbon monoxide. You may notice your lungs are starting to clear out mucus; don’t be alarmed if you begin to cough this up, it’s your body’s way of expelling the debris that smoking accumulates. You will also begin to notice an improvement in your sense of smell and taste.
After 72 hours without tobacco- Now’s the time to go for a run, as your breathing will begin to improve and your energy levels will start to increase.
After 2 weeks without tobacco- Circulation will be improving, so you will see a significant difference in your overall fitness.
After 3 months without tobacco- Lung function will have improved by up to 10%.
After 1 year without tobacco- Congratulations!You are now half as likely to suffer from heart disease as you were one year ago!
After 10 years without tobacco- Your risk of developing lung cancer has halved since giving up tobacco.
After 15 years without tobacco- You now have the same chances of suffering from a heart attack as someone who has never smoked before.
E-Cigarettes have recently become the UK’s most popular aid for those trying to break their tobacco habit. They do not contain any of the harmful toxins or chemicals that put your body under so much strain when inhaled from normal cigarettes. If you’ve already switched to E-Cigarettes, how far along the timeline are you, and what health benefits have you noticed so far?
