Stopping an addiction can be tough on the body, especially when that addiction has to do with smoking. You get lingering withdrawal symptoms that may last for weeks and intense cravings that may lead you back to lighting one more stick of cigarette if you’re not strongly motivated.
Yet, barely minutes into a smoke-free lifestyle, your body begins to change for good. By continuing this practice for weeks and months, your body will only experience triple the benefits you initially got.
The American Lung Association (ALA) has noted that the health benefits of quitting smoking are the biggest reason to quit smoking. Dr. Robert Redfield, who was the then director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stated in his forward to the U.S. Surgeon General’s report on smoking cessation that people who have smoked for a long time or who smoke frequently can still reap the health and financial rewards of giving up the habit. There are higher health benefits to quitting smoking earlier in life, but the report by the Center shows that it’s never too late to kick the habit.
What Happens When You Quit Smoking?
According to the CDC, your body will begin to experience withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms will include cravings, irritability, and even restlessness. Several other smokers may experience difficulties with concentration, trouble sleeping, hunger, widget gain, and a host of other symptoms.
The health benefits of quitting smoking appear barely twenty minutes after the last drag. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), a smoker’s heart rate and blood pressure begin to experience a decline. Then, it takes the body a few more days to normalize the carbon monoxide in the blood. Within months, there is a significant improvement in circulation and functionality in the lungs.
Although quitting does not reverse the scarring of the lungs, it can help to prevent the symptoms of lung disease, per the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services smokefree.gov.
Further, quitting smoking will help your body become stronger. This renewed strength comes with a reduced risk of bone fractures that may occur later in life. It also comes with a more robust immune system, combined with stronger muscles because of the availability of oxygen in your blood. Quitting cigarettes will also reduce the risk of a heart attack in one or two years.
According to a particular study, Dutch researchers noted that quitting smoking seemed to work as well as taking various medications that will prevent heart attacks and strokes in many patients who have either had a previous heart attack or even a procedure to open up blocked arteries.
Conclusion
Quitting smoking had many benefits, including improving the functionality of the brain and other parts of the body. Therefore, to prevent the risk of getting chronic illnesses and diseases, it is better to stop smoking as early as possible.
