What Happens to Your Body When You Quit Smoking?

If you’ve been smoking for a while, you’ve probably heard all about what smoking can do to your health. It’s good to know, however, that so many of these health problems can be reversed when you make the switch to a smoke-free lifestyle for good.

With so many of you joining us this January to ditch the cigs, we’ve put together a timeline of the health milestones you can achieve if you continue your momentum throughout 2020. Even as quick as an hour into quitting smoking you’ll see improvements to heart rate, blood pressure and circulation, but let’s start where you’re at now. One month in!

If you’re reading this on the 31st of January and have been taking part in our smoke-free challenge for the month, your body is already beginning to heal. You’ll experience improved energy levels, plus a decrease in smoking-related symptoms such as sinus congestion, shortness of breath and pesky coughs. You’ll find it easier to perform activities such as running and jumping without wheezing or feeling light-headed.

And there’s more! Your lungs are now beginning to regenerate, helping to reduce excess mucus build-up and protect against any bacterial infections.

For the few months after quitting, you’ll see continued enhancements to circulation and lung function. For anyone with a womb, your fertility begins to improve and the risk that your baby will be born prematurely is reduced. You’ve also made it through the hardest part of withdrawal!

After an amazing nine months into your smoke-free journey, your lungs will have significantly healed. The delicate structures within your lungs have recovered, and you’ll see a decrease in the frequency in lung infections now that these fibers can do their job more easily!

One year in to quitting the cigs, and your risk for coronary heart disease has now decreased by HALF that of a smoker. This risk will continue to decrease the longer you stay smoke-free. You’ll also be able to breathe much easier when you’re exerting yourself, and coughing should be minimised. 

As cigarettes are packed full of toxins, your arteries and blood vessels narrow which increases the likelihood of developing blood clots. After five years without smoking, your arteries and blood vessels begin to widen, lowering the risk of stroke. Your risk of stroke will continue to reduce over the next 10 years as the body continues to heal!

The big 1-0. 10 years after quitting smoking, your chances of developing lung cancer and dying from it are approximately cut in half in comparison to a non-smoker. In addition, your likelihood of developing mouth, throat or pancreatic cancer has significantly reduced.

15 years after quitting smoking, your chance of developing coronary heart disease has been reset - now comparable to the equivalent of a non-smoker. Plus, the risk of developing pancreatic cancer has reduced to this level too! At this stage, your body has hugely healed itself and the discomfort of those few weeks after quitting are a hazy memory. You’ve done brilliantly!

After 20 years, the risk of death from causes such as lung disease and cancer has officially dropped to the level of a person who has never smoked a cigarette in their life.

We’d like to say a huge congratulations to anyone who has joined us this January, whether you’ve given up smoking or have reduced your cigarette intake with the help of vaping. Through every step of your journey, we are here to help.

Find your nearest VapeHQ at https://vapehq.co.uk/pages/storelocator.

Best wishes,
The VapeHQ Team