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Your Body Experiences Cravings, Anxiety And Loads Of Other Symptoms After You Stop Smoking

Your Body Experiences Cravings, Anxiety And Loads Of Other Symptoms After You Stop Smoking

Some inspiration for the new year.

Chris Ogden

Chris Ogden

As much as we all know that packing in the fags will lead to a more healthy life, it can prove a difficult.

French intellectual and novelist Jean-Paul Sartre, for instance, was informed towards the end of his life that if he failed to give up smoking he would be forced to undergo a series of gruesome amputations. His response to his doctor was that he "wanted to think it over" and, later, when asked to name the most important thing in his life, he replied: "Everything. Living. Smoking."

But, let's face it, they aren't called 'death sticks' for nothing, so for anybody who has made a New Year's resolution to pack them in, here's what's going to happen to your body in the coming days, weeks, months and years if you stick to your guns.

Eight hours in

The effects of withdrawal are strong as nicotine leaves the bloodstream and cravings start to happen. This is the time quitters feel their first craving for their former tried and trusted friend.

Credit: Ruptly

One day

The peak of anxiety and 'stress' levels. This is when the withdrawal symptoms are at their worst. Boy, oh boy, will you want a taste of that sweet, sweet nicotine, but you'll just have to get through it.

Two to three days

If you decide to go 'cold turkey' there will be no nicotine left in the body at this point. Taste and smell receptors have been given the chance to heal, meaning food will taste better.

One week

At this point you should be over the worst of it, however, many quitters experience a cough as the lungs look to clear themselves as much as they can.

Two weeks

Blood circulation returns to the same as a non-smoker, especially circulation to the gums and teeth. Tissue damaged by gum disease can also begin to recover.

PA

A month

By one month in all withdrawal symptoms - from anger, anxiety, insomnia to mild depression - should have subsided.

Two months

The risk of a heart attack begins to drop and lung function improves.

Three months

By this point any post-smoking cough should have cleared and exercise should now be a lot easier.

Six months

The air sacs in the lungs have re-grown and healed some of the damage caused by smoking, however, sadly, the lungs will never be as healthy as a non-smoker. There again, they will never have the memories of the toking up behind the bike shed at school or bitching about a boss on a cig break, so swings and roundabouts.

One year

Ex-smokers are now 50 percent less likely to have a heart attack, heart disease or a stroke.

Five years

After five years of being smoke-free the risks of getting diabetes are the same a non-smoker.

Ten years and onwards

The risk of having a stroke is the same as that of a non-smoker and the chance of death from lung cancer is half that of a smoker. And after 10 years smoke-free, the risk of heart disease is the same as a non-smoker.

Featured Image Credit: PA Images

Topics: Interesting, Smoking, Health