The Health Benefits of Quitting Smoking

Smoking is one of the leading causes of preventable death in the world, causing more than 8 million deaths each year. Smoking affects all parts of the body, including the heart, lungs, brain, and skin.

Health Benefits of Quitting Smoking

When you quit smoking, your body begins to heal from the damage caused by nicotine. The health benefits of quitting smoking include:

• Reduced risk of cardiovascular disease: Within 20 minutes of quitting smoking, your blood pressure begins to drop. Within 12 hours, your cholesterol levels start to rise. Within 2-12 weeks, blood flow to your heart improves. Within 1-3 months, your risk of having a heart attack begins to decrease.
• Reduced risk of cancer: After 15 years of quitting smoking, your risk of lung cancer is the same as that of nonsmokers.
• Reduced risk of respiratory diseases: Within 1-9 months of quitting smoking, your cough and chest congestion begin to improve. Within 1-2 years, your lung function improves.
• Reduced risk of gum disease: Within 2-4 weeks of quitting smoking, your gum health improves.
• Reduced risk of tooth decay: Within 2-4 weeks of quitting smoking, your tooth health improves.
• Reduced risk of type 2 diabetes: After 5 years of quitting smoking, your risk of type 2 diabetes is the same as that of nonsmokers.
• Reduced risk of rheumatoid arthritis: After 10 years of quitting smoking, your risk of rheumatoid arthritis is the same as that of nonsmokers.
• Reduced risk of breast cancer: After 10 years of quitting smoking, the risk of breast cancer in women who used to smoke is the same as that of women who never smoked.
• Reduced risk of cervical cancer: After 10 years of quitting smoking, the risk of cervical cancer in women who used to smoke is the same as that of women who never smoked.

• Improved mood: After quitting smoking, your overall mood begins to improve.
• Increased energy: After quitting smoking, your energy levels begin to rise.
• Improved breath and teeth odor: After quitting smoking, your breath and teeth odor begin to improve.
• Increased life expectancy: Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do to increase your life expectancy.

Tips for Quitting Smoking

Quitting smoking is not easy, but it is possible. Here are some tips for quitting smoking:

• Set a quit date.
• Talk to your doctor.
• Find support from family and friends.
• Use nicotine replacement therapy, such as gum, patches, or nasal spray.
• Be patient.

There are many resources available to help you quit smoking, including hotlines, online programs, and support groups.