The effects of quitting smoking: Short & long-term benefits

Short term effects of stopping smoking

1. Improvement in breathing

Within hours of quitting smoking, your lung and respiratory function begins to improve. The bronchial tubes start to relax, making it easier to breathe, and your lung capacity increases.

Shortness of breath and coughing may decrease as the airways start to clear up.

2. Enhanced circulation

Smoking damages blood vessels and reduces blood flow throughout the body. When you quit smoking, your circulation begins to improve, leading to better oxygen and nutrient delivery to various organs and tissues.

Improved blood flow can result in warmer hands and feet, as well as reduced dizziness or fatigue.

3. Improved sense of taste and smell

Smoking changes the shape of your taste buds and damages the olfactory nerves. The good news is that these recover quickly when you stop smoking improving your sense of taste and smell.

4. Increased energy levels

Smoking can cause tiredness and reduce energy levels. However, once you quit smoking, your energy levels tend to increase. This happens as the body begins to repair the damage caused by smoking and as oxygen levels improve, providing more energy to the muscles and tissues..

Long term effects of stopping smoking

1. Reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases

Smoking is a leading cause of heart disease and stroke.

By quitting smoking, you significantly decrease the risk of developing these cardiovascular conditions.

Over time, your blood pressure and heart rate normalise, and the risk of blood clots decreases.

2. Decreased risk of respiratory diseases

Smoking is closely linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, and lung cancer.

Quitting smoking can slow down the progression of these diseases and reduce the risk of developing them.

Over time, lung function continues to improve, reducing the risk of respiratory infections and improving overall respiratory health.

3. Improved immune system function

Smoking weakens the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to infections and diseases.

When you quit smoking, your immune system gradually strengthens, leading to a lower risk of infections, improved wound healing, and better overall health including lowered risk of other cancers.

Stop smoking timeline

Negative effects of quitting smoking

1. Weight Gain

Some individuals may experience weight gain after quitting smoking, primarily due to substitution, increased appetite and changes in metabolism.

However, with the right stop smoking method there is no need to substitute and along with proper diet and exercise, there is no need to gain weight when you quit smoking.

2. Withdrawal Symptoms

When you stop taking nicotine whether through smoking cigarettes or vaping you will suffer withdrawal as with any drug.

Importantly, Nicotine withdrawal symptoms can be broken into two different categories – physical and mental. You might assume that these would be equal, but in fact all the really unpleasant symptoms that smokers experience when they quit are caused by the mental process. Allen Carr’s Easyway tackles the issues surrounding that mental process.

With the right method the to quit smoking your withdrawal should be very mild.

3. Mental Health Challenges

Quitting smoking can have a massively positive impact on mental health.  That said, without the correct support, some individuals may experience symptoms of depression, anxiety, or mood swings.

These are caused by their belief that they have sacrificed a genuine pleasure or crutch which leads to a feeling of deprivation and sense of loss.

However, if you use the right quit smoking method you will not experience these and you will find it easy.

Final thoughts

Quitting smoking has a huge positive effect on your health, both in the short term and the long term. From improved respiratory function and enhanced circulation to a reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases and respiratory conditions, the benefits of quitting smoking are substantial.

There can be temporary health challenges, such as weight gain or unpleasant withdrawal symptoms but if you use Allen Carr’s Easyway to stop smoking you will not experience these. Even if you did, the long-term gains far outweigh any short-term discomfort.

Quitting smoking is one of the best decisions you can make for your health and well-being.