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This Is What Happens When You Quit Smoking

This information is provided by The American Lung Association. According to their research, within twenty minutes of smoking that last cigarette the physical QuitBody begins a series of positive changes. LB

20 minutes after quitting:
Blood pressure decreases
Pulse rate drops
Body temperature of hands and feet increases

At 8 hours:
Carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal
oxygen level in blood increases to normal

At 24 hours:
Chance of a heart attack decreases

At 48 hours:
Nerve endings start regrowing
Ability to smell and taste is enhanced

The first year after quitting:

At 2 weeks to 3 months:
Circulation improves
Walking becomes easier
Lung function increases

1 to 9 months:
Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, shortness of breath decreases

1 year:
Excess risk of coronary heart disease is decreased to half that of a smoker

Long-term Benefits of Quitting

At 5 years:
5-15 years after quitting, stroke risk is reduced to that of people wo have never smoked.

At 10 years:
Risk of lung cancer drops to as little as one-half that of continuing smokers
Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas decreases
Risk of ulcer decreaes

At 15 years:
Risk of coronary heart disease is now similar to that of people who have never smoked
Risk of death returns to nearly the level of people who have never smoked

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