Almost immediate effects your body faces just minutes after you quit smoking

It’s grey and rainy outside which is really hammering home that it’s the first day of October. Which means it’s also ‘Stoptober’.

So, if you’ve truly decided to brave it and commit to the challenge, you could be going through the first stages of giving up smoking. And props to you because quitting cigarettes is no easy feat.

But it’s certainly worth it for the effects on your body after ditching the nicotine – with some of them being almost immediate. Yep, your body starts going through the changes of quitting smoking within just minutes, particularly if you’ve been heavily addicted.

According to the NHS, the health benefits come into play as soon as 20 minutes after a cigarette.

So, here’s the full breakdown of what can happen when you quit:

It's certainly not easy but it's worth it. (Getty Stock)

20 minutes after a cigarette

After this period of time, your heart rate will return to normal, as smoking increases your heart rate and tightens your arteries - which therefore makes your heart work harder.

NiQuitin states: "Your heart rate and blood pressure will return to normal in as little as 20 minutes after you extinguish your last cigarette.

"This is because the chemicals in your blood metabolise and return to normal."

The company also explains that cigarettes have 'more than 7,000 harmful chemicals' that will negatively affect your body, so quitting and getting rid of these will help your body return to normal.

Eight hours after a cigarette

After this period of time, your oxygen levels will return to normal as the carbon monoxide - which stops your blood from carrying as much oxygen - from cigarettes is cleared from your body.

The NHS explains: "Your oxygen levels are recovering, and the harmful carbon monoxide level in your blood will have reduced by half."

Your body will feel the benefit. (Getty Stock)

48 hours after a cigarette

According to the NHS, after just two days all of this harmful carbon monoxide will be flushed out out your system.

On top of that, your lungs begin clearing out mucus, meaning your senses of taste and smell improve.

72 hours after a cigarette

In just three days, you will 'notice that breathing feels easier' - this is due to the bronchial tubes in your lungs relaxing.

Meanwhile, energy levels will increase too, which is always a plus.

Two to 12 weeks after a cigarette

If you do make it past that initial tough stage of the early days of quitting, within two to 12 weeks, blood will pump 'through to your heart and muscles much better because your circulation will have improved'.

Will you be giving quitting a go this month? (Getty stock photo)

Three to nine months after a cigarette

And within three to nine months, smoker's cough and any wheezing or breathing problems will improve as your lung function increases by up to 10 percent.

One year after a cigarette

According to the NHS, if a smoker makes it a whole 365 days, the risk of a heart attack will have halved compared to a regular smoker.

10 years after a cigarette

If you make it a whole decade after putting down your last cigarette, the risk of death from lung cancer will have halved compared to if you had kept smoking.

You can find information and advice to stop smoking on the NHS website for free.