What Happens to Your Body When your Stop Smoking

Quitting smoking is one of the most significant decisions an individual can make to improve their health. There are numerous benefits of quitting smoking ranging from reducing the risk of lung cancer to improving heart health. However, those benefits are not only achieved in the future. Within just a few hours of quitting smoking, your body begins to experience changes which can positively affect your overall health.

The first thing that happens when you quit smoking is a significant decrease in your carbon monoxide level. Carbon monoxide is a harmful gas that is present in cigarette smoke. It binds to the hemoglobin in your blood, decreasing the amount of oxygen that can be carried. Quitting smoking allows your body to clear out the carbon monoxide, which can increase the amount of oxygen that reaches your vital organs, which are essential to their function.

Within 48 hours of quitting smoking, your sense of smell and taste significantly improve. This is because smoking damages the nerve endings in your nose and mouth. As your body begins to heal, those nerve endings start to regenerate, which enhances your ability to taste and smell food better.

Within several weeks, you will begin to experience significant improvements in your lung function. Quitting reduces mucus production, which can help prevent infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia. Your circulation also increases, and your lungs start to repair the damage caused by smoking by growing new tissue.

As you continue to abstain from smoking, you will notice more benefits over time. After several months, coughing and shortness of breath will significantly reduce, which can make day-to-day activities such as walking upstairs easier.

In conclusion, giving up smoking can have numerous benefits to your overall health. Early benefits include improved breathing function, sensory improvement, and a decrease in carbon monoxide levels. The benefits will continue to accumulate over time, so quitting smoking is never too late. By stopping smoking, you can increase your lifespan, improve your quality of life, and improve your overall health, both in the short and long-term.