This happens to your body when you quit smoking
When you quit smoking, your body begins healing in many ways. The National Library of Medicine gives a timeline of improvements, some immediate and some that occur over months and years. A few of the benefits are:
- First day: Blood pressure, heart rate and carbon monoxide blood levels return to normal.
- Two weeks to three months: Blood circulation and lung function both improve.
- First year: Risk of a heart attack and coronary heart disease drops. Lungs become more capable of removing mucus and fighting infection. Shortness of breath and coughing reduce.
- By five years: Risk of stroke and cervical cancer decreases to non-smoking levels. Risk halved of cancers of the esophagus, mouth, throat and bladder.
- By 10 to 15 years: Risk of death from lung cancer halved and risk of coronary heart disease diminishes to non-smoking level.
There are many more physical improvements, but thoracic surgeon Jeffrey J. Spillane, MD, FACS, says the most significant change is psychological.
“If you’ve made the move to decrease or stop, you’re in a positive emotional place. It’s probably the biggest effect,” he said.
Smokers carry shame and guilt about their habit, and most have tried to quit several times, he said. When they succeed, they gain a sense of control.
“They’re so proud they’ve stopped.”
Cutting Back Before Surgery
Dr. Spillane, who practices at Cape Cod Healthcare General and Thoracic Surgery in Hyannis, said he urges his patients to stop smoking or decrease their smoking before he operates. Halving the number of cigarettes smoked is a reasonable goal, and one most can accomplish, he said.
“I want my patients to be as healthy as possible before we operate,” he said.
Cutting back also shows a patient’s willingness to do their part. Dr. Spillane expects them to walk more and lead a healthier lifestyle.
“It’s a personal opportunity to improve your life,” he said.
If someone is resistant to at least cutting back on their smoking, Dr. Spillane and his team will coach the patient on the best strategies, he said.
Nicotine and Microvascular Harm
In addition to being highly addictive, nicotine (which is the number one physiological component of tobacco) is a vasoconstrictor – it causes blood vessels to tighten up. On a larger scale, this causes high blood pressure, which can lead to higher risk of stroke and kidney disease. On a smaller scale, it affects tissues throughout the body, as tiny blood vessels “clamp down,” he said. This microvascular harm can injure the brain, increasing the chances of developing dementia.
When he meets with patients, Dr. Spillane looks at their fingers for signs of “clubbing.” The fingers of long-term heavy smokers appear blue or dusky, and the nails are rounded.
“They’re not getting enough blood flow to the end of their fingers,” he said. If smoking is having that effect on their fingers, “imagine what it’s doing to their brain,” he added.
Quitting smoking can reverse some of the microvascular changes, Dr. Spillane said.
Other Benefits of Quitting
Stopping smoking can result in additional positive effects, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Library of Medicine, such as:
- Cuts the chance of premature death
- Decreases likelihood of blood clots forming in legs
- Increases levels of “good” high-density cholesterol
- Lowers the risk of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- Makes asthma easier to control
- Boosts health of pregnant women and their infants
- Lowers risk of miscarriage and premature birth
- Lowers chance of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome)
- Decreases male infertility from damaged sperm
- Lowers occurrence of erectile dysfunction
- Improves oral health
