The benefits of quitting smoking come soon after you stop it.
In addition, to lowering the odds of developing diseases related to the respiratory and cardiac system, your quality of life should also improve significantly.
In fact, you may add up to 10 more years to your life. So, are you interested to learn about the benefits of stopping smoking?
Keep reading to find out how you can improve your life if you quit smoking!
Rebuild your cardiovascular health
The main cause of death in the United States is heart disease, and smokers are the number one victims of it. Smoking is related to several cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, stroke, etc.
However, one of the primary benefits of quitting smoking is that after one year, the risk of a heart attack is lowered to half, allowing you to start rebuilding your cardiovascular health.
Exposure to nicotine is the leading cause of cardiovascular problems in smokers, as the chemical substances in tobacco, such as carbon monoxide, can raise blood pressure and heart rate.
In contrast, if you stop smoking or vaping, your heart rate should improve within the first 24 hours.
Improve your lung function
When you stop smoking, you may find it easier to perform everyday tasks such as climbing stairs. This is a result of lower bronchial sensitivity.
On the first day without cigarettes, the levels of carbon monoxide present in your lungs should return to a normalized state. Yet, three months later, the improvement in your lung function is 30%.
The lung has small structures called cilia that filter the trachea and lungs. They help to remove toxins and environmental pollutants.
In this way, they contribute to the fight against colds and other respiratory infections.
When a person smokes, their cilia are flattened and thus paralyzed. The result is an increased risk of infections and lung injury. However, when you stop smoking, they return to normal.
Enhancement in your daily life and appearance
In addition to the internal benefits, you will observe small changes in your daily life that point to an improvement in your health as a whole.
For example:
- Daily activities no longer leave you out of breath;
- Your sense of smell will gradually return to normal;
- You will notice that the food tastes better.
- Your hair, clothes, and breath also smell more pleasant, and your appearance should improve over time.
- You may see that your teeth and nails no longer have a yellowish tinge.
Tobacco also influences your skin’s appearance, including premature wrinkles, gum disease, and even loss of teeth. So you will be experiencing a type of “glow-up.”
Boost your mental health
A lot of people smoke as a way to relieve stress and anxiety. However, despite being associated with a way to ease tension and relax, the practice actually increases tension and anxiety symptoms.
Studies indicate smokers are more prone to develop depression over time. The idea of smoking to relax happens because the practice interferes with certain chemicals in your brain.
For example, some form of craving can make a person irritable and anxious. So the next time they smoke, they’ll feel relieved. Thus, smokers associate this well-being with the act of smoking.
When you stop smoking, stress, anxiety, and depression levels tend to decrease. Meanwhile, quality of life and mood should increase. It is also possible that there is a reduction in the use of medication dosage in those who use them to treat mental health problems.
Can you see how the benefits of quitting smoking can help you improve your life as a whole? Now you have some reasons to consider taking this step to boost your health and really quit this habit.
If you need more guidance, our blog is full of content that can help you in your journey. So take a look and seek the help of your support network!
