'Butting Out' Brings Quick Benefits

(HealthScoutNews) -- If you're even thinking about quitting smoking, you've taken a step in the right direction.

To help you along, the University of Toledo Health Services describes how kicking the habit will benefit your health:

After 20 minutes of quitting:

• blood pressure decreases;
• pulse rate drops;
• and body temperature of hands and feet increases.

At 8 hours:

• carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal;
• and oxygen level in blood increases to normal.

After 24 hours:

• chances of a heart attack decrease.

After 48 hours:

• nerve endings start regrowing;
• and ability to taste and smell is enhanced.

The first year after quitting:

• circulation improves;
• walking becomes easier;
• lung function increases;
• coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, and shortness of breath decrease;
• and excess risk of coronary heart disease decreases by half.

At 10 years:

• risk of lung cancer drops 50 percent;
• and risks of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas decrease.

At 15 years:

• risk of coronary disease is now similar to that of people who have never smoked;
• and risk of death returns to nearly the level of people who have never smoked.

Reference Source 101

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