We have all heard how smoking is bad for you and quitting can save your lungs and life, but there are more benefits of quitting smoking for good.
The Cancer Association Of South Africa (CANSA) share the following tips to help you in your journey
20 minutes after quitting
Heart rate and blood pressure drops.
12 hours after quitting
The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal
2 weeks to 3 months after quitting
Circulation in your body improves and your lung function increases.
1 to 9 months after quitting
Coughing and shortness of breath decrease
Cilia (tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs) start to regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to remove mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection.
1 year after quitting
The excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a continuing smoker’s.
5 years after quitting
Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat and bladder are cut in half
Cervical cancer risk falls to that of a non-smoker
Stroke risk can fall to that of a non-smoker after 25 years.
10 years after quitting
The risk of dying from lung cancer is about half that of a person who is still smoking. The risk of cancer of the larynx (voice box) and pancreas decreases.
15 years after quitting
The risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker.
Quitting while you are younger will reduce your health risks more, but quitting at any age can give back years of life that would otherwise be lost if you continue to smoke.
