The CDC reports that cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. It is responsible for one in five deaths among men and women. In addition to causing various cancers, smoking can increase the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke by two to four times.
Other complications linked to smoking include fertility problems, tooth loss, and diabetes, among many others. Your lungs start healing right away when you quit smoking. If you are a smoker, please understand that you can potentially reverse years of damage caused by smoking if you stop today.
The FDA and CDA say that within 12 hours after your last cigarette, the carbon monoxide level in your blood returns to a normal level and increases oxygen-blood flow. Within one year of quitting smoking , your risk of experiencing a heart attack declines sharply. Within two to five years, your risk for stroke can reduce to the level of that of a non-smoker. Better yet, your risk for dying from lung cancer decreases by half at the year mark after quitting. The American Cancer Society mentions several additional benefits when you quit smoking.
Your heart rate and blood pressure decrease 20 minutes after smoking. Your lung function improves within two weeks to three months after the last cigarette. During the first year after quitting, coughing and shortness of breath decrease, and your lungs become better at cleaning themselves to reduce the risk of infection. There are countless benefits associated with quitting smoking. Smoke can make you smell bad because it can cling to your hair and clothes, and cause bad breath.
Quitting smoking can even make you look more attractive, as it may stop your nails and teeth from yellowing, and also improve the appearance of your skin and hair. Your lungs are self-cleaning, which means they will gradually heal and regenerate on their own after you quit smoking. However, there are certain lifestyle behaviors you can practice to try and accelerate the rate at which your lungs heal.
Water helps flush toxins from your body, including those found in cigarettes and tobacco products. Start drinking more water to help your body detox and eliminate as many toxins as possible. Some doctors recommend drinking hot tea or water. This is because warm beverages can help thin the mucus in your lungs so you can clear it from your lungs more easily. The nutrients in these foods also help your cells repair themselves and contribute to new, healthy tissue growth.
Your doctor can evaluate your diet and recommend changes you can make to help your lungs heal more quickly. Exercise increases the amount of oxygen that gets delivered to cells and tissues throughout your body. Cardiovascular exercises like brisk walking, swimming, running, and cycling are ideal for helping to clear out your lungs after you quit smoking.
For several weeks or months after you quit smoking, you may notice that your coughing persists or that it occurs more frequently. Allow yourself to cough as often as needed, as this can help your lungs heal a bit faster. Before spending time outside, check your local weather station for air quality reports. According to the American Lung Association , staying hydrated is important for lung health. Drinking warm beverages , like tea, broth, or even just hot water, may cause thinning of mucus, making it easier to clear from your airways.
Research has shown that green tea has anti-inflammatory properties that may prevent some types of lung disease. In a study , participants who consumed green tea two or more times per day were less likely to develop COPD. Steam therapy involves inhaling water vapor to thin out mucus and reduce inflammation in the airways. A study showed that in a small group of COPD patients, the use of a steam mask significantly improved their breathing.
Making the decision to quit smoking is an important first step toward taking control of your health. Reach out to these resources for support:.
When you inhale, air travels into your airway trachea , which then splits into two airways, called bronchi, that each lead to one of your lungs. Those bronchi then split into smaller airways called bronchioles, which are the smallest airways in your lungs. At the end of each of those bronchioles are small air sacs called alveoli. When you smoke, you inhale about different compounds. These compounds can be broken down into several thousand chemicals, many of which are known to cause cancer.
These and other smoking-related diseases can have a pretty big impact on your life expectancy and quality of life. Deciding to quit smoking is one of the most important and best! Vaping has risks, regardless of what you vape. Although vaping is less risky than smoking cigarettes, the safest option is to avoid vaping and smoking….
But how long does it stay in your system? Known as thirdhand smoke, the cigarette odor that clings to clothing, skin, hair, your breath, and your environment contains active chemical…. Pledge to end smoking in England by Image source, Getty Images. But a small proportion of cells went unscathed. Swindon firm gives non-smokers extra holiday Smoking ban: Austria's cafe society calls time on cigarettes Pledge to end smoking in England by Motivation to quit. View comments. Related Topics. Smoking Lung cancer.
Published 13 January Published 27 December
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