Millions of people continue to smoke despite proven experiments showing that smoking harms the lungs, heart, and other organs, and increases the risk of cancer. The first positive changes begin to occur 20 minutes after the last cigarette. The heart rate decreases, and blood pressure returns to normal, as nicotine causes the heart to beat faster and constricts blood vessels by stimulating the release of adrenaline. However, these changes depend on the duration of an individual's smoking. Long-term smoking leads to damage to the heart muscle and blood vessels, which threatens irregular heartbeats. Additionally, long-term smoking contributes to the development of high blood pressure, making smokers more prone to heart attacks.
After 8 hours without a cigarette, the oxygen level in the blood begins to rise, and the level of toxic carbon monoxide drops to almost half. Carbon monoxide (a colorless, odorless gas) is formed when burning tobacco that contains carbon, and it replaces oxygen in the blood when smoking. As a result, lung function weakens, the heart works harder, and cells and tissues lack the oxygen they need, which can lead to strokes or heart attacks.
After 48 hours, or two days without cigarettes, an individual will be amazed at how good their usual cheese sandwich tastes for breakfast, as their taste and smell senses begin to recover. Smoking can damage the olfactory nerves in the nose, making it difficult for smokers to distinguish smells and flavors. During this period, the body completely cleanses itself of carbon monoxide, and the respiratory system gradually starts to expel accumulated mucus.
After 72 hours without smoking, or three days, breathing becomes easier because the alveoli and bronchi—parts of the respiratory system that were irritated and damaged by smoke—begin to recover. The individual will feel more energetic as the oxygen level in the blood rises.
After two weeks, significant improvements in circulation will be noted, and blood flow through the heart and muscles will greatly enhance. It should be understood that the toxic substances in cigarette smoke, especially carbon monoxide, contribute to the formation of plaques in the arteries, causing blockages and impairing their function, leading to atherosclerosis and heart attacks.
Lung function will improve by 10 percent three months after the last cigarette, and coughing, shortness of breath, and other respiratory issues will gradually disappear. There is no need to worry if coughing persists, as the lungs and bronchial tubes continue to clean the accumulated mucus from years of smoking.
A year after quitting smoking, the risk of heart attack, as well as other heart diseases, is reduced by half compared to smokers. After ten years, the risk of dying from lung cancer is cut in half compared to smokers. Everyone should be aware that cigarette smoke contains more than 5,000 different chemicals, most of which are toxic to the body. Thus, smoking increases the risk of lung cancer and 15 other types of cancer, including cancers of the mouth, throat, rectum, liver, pancreas, and others.
