How Long After You Quit Smoking Does Healing Begin?
Healing from the effects of smoking is possible, but it does take time.
The following is a guideline to give you an idea how your immune system kicks in to clear the effects of smoking from your system and promote healing.
We know it is wise to give your system additional nutritional support when smoking, but don’t forget that after you quit you want to support your body with nutrition to help support physical healing.
Effects of Quitting Smoking – After Eight Hours
- Carbon monoxide in your body drops.
- Oxygen level in your blood increases to normal.
Two days After Quitting Smoking
- Your sense of smell and taste will improve.
- You will enjoy the taste of your food more.
- Your risk of heart attack begins to decrease.
After Three of Four Days
- Bronchial tubes relax.
- Your lung capacity will have increased.
- Breathing becomes easier.
After Two Weeks of Not Smoking
- Blood flow improves; nicotine has passed from your body.
Two Weeks to Three Months After Quitting
- Circulation improves.
- Walking and running are easier.
- Lung functioning increases up to 30%.
Six to Nine Months After Stopping Smoking
- You’ll experience less coughing
- Less sinus congestion
- More energy (less tiredness and shortness of breath).
One Year – Happy Anniversary! Mark Your Calendar
- Your risk of heart disease will be about half of what it would have been if you continued to smoke!
Five Years After Stopping Smoking
- Your risk of stroke will be substantially reduced and you have a lot to look forward to. You are well into your recovery from the effects of tobacco addiction.
- Within 5 to 15 years after quitting, it becomes about the same as a non-smokers.
After Ten Years Free From Addiction
- Your risk of dying from lung cancer will be about half of what it would have been if you had continued to smoke.
- Your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas will also decrease.
After Fifteen Years – Congratulations
- Your risk of dying from a heart attack is equal to a person who never smoked.
Yes, it does take time, but where will you be in fifteen years if you don’t stop smoking now? You may be one of the lucky ones like George Burns, but what are the odds of that?
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I recently quit smoking and am enjoying breathing better but the hardest thing is when I go out on the town with friends. I drink one glass of wine and the cravings are very strong. Is there any way to make the cravings less when drinking alcohol? Besides the obvious of not going out at all.
Hi Nichole, Congratulations are in order on your progress. Keep focusing on the benefits when your cigarette cravings come up. Also, if you drink alcohol, try drinks that contain milk because milk can make the taste buds reject the taste of cigarettes and perhaps you might want to stay away from environments that tempt you a bit longer till you are stronger. There are also aids that you can take with you. One we have heard of is NicoDrops which is an herbal product.
Hi! I just quit 11 days ago…I just won’t pay $6 for a pack, and that was the excuse I needed. I used the nicotine patch every day for the first week, and now I ALWAYS keep one with me. If I’m in a situation where I’m craving, especially involving drinking, I slap on a patch and it gets me through the evening with enough willpower to NOT hit up my smoking buddies for a butt, and keeps me from being irritable. I know it’s still a crutch, but it lets me continue to enjoy my social life.
Pauli,
Thanks so much for your post! Congratulations on your choice to beat this habit. Please stop by anytime you need a little boost or reminder of the dangers of nicotine or big tobacco’s manipulation to keep smokers addicted. Eventually you will be able to get off the patch when you feel strong enough. Now go enjoy knowing you are a great example for others.
I am at two weeks and happy. My motivation was a comment from my 9 year old daughter. That worked more than any advertising or medical report. The bad taste in my mouth is terrible though. Has anybody else felt that?
It has been 4days since I had my last cigarette. First 24 hours were OK until the evening when a chronic cough began. On the second day, I was coughing all day accompanied by mucus spit. On the third day, I had flu symptoms such as, fever, runny nose, and chronic cough. I felt like I was dying. I am coughing my lung out. I never want to smoke again if I have to go through this painful process again.
Hi Yummi, Congratulations on stopping smoking! Keep going and don’t look back … other than to acknowledge that you are almost over the worst part. And whatever you do, stay focused and seek support if you ever are tempted again. Be proud of yourself, and if anyone tries to tempt you to smoke again … just remember this experience and know you have control over your choices! Yeah, you are doing it!
Its been 4 days and I can’t get the thought out of my head of wanting to smoke a cigarette. How long does these thoughts go through your guys head of wanting to smoke? Now I know it is the habit part that is taking over and it is not the craving. I am able to fight my urges easily but just wondering how long does that thought go away?
Hi, Sheri. I think it’s great that you’ve decided to stop smoking. Have you heard of EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques)? You gently tap various “meridian points” on your body. The method works really well to lower cravings (and for *many* other issues).
You can find free information here > Emotional Freedom Techniques – EFT
Hi, i stopped smoking 18 weeks ago using Champix. Everything has been fine, although I have put on 10lbs., but the last week I have had very strong cravings and although I have not given into them, it has become a pain as I find myself thinking about smoking again, after breaking free. Will this pass? What can I do?
Hi Elaine, you might want to try Smoke Deter, or Nico Drops. Both are all natural products. Here are the links:
Smoke Deter, or Nico Drops
People seem to get great results with both of these.
Good for you! You Will drop the weight once you balance your emotional reason for smoking. I think either of these products will help you with your cravings.
I stopped smoking 7 months ago. I am 29 now and had been smoking since I was 17. I used to be a very sporty person and exercised many times a week. After I finished university and got a job I found little time and motivation to exercise. seven months ago I was coming back from work and the elevator was out of order, and I had to walk up to the 6th floor. When I got there I was totally out of breath, and when I opened the door I threw the pack into the garbage immediately and never looked back. At the moment I’ve started exercising twice a week, and I feel energized and liberated. I will most definitely never have a cigarette again in my life. Even when I’m out with my friends drinking and I see people smoking, I think back to that day seven months ago and I feel no craving, just disgust.
I have been smoke free for 5 days, cravings are still there, but my youngest told his father and I about a month ago that he was taught in health class that if you smoke you die. It is very hard to quit after many years of doing it, but those words are what is getting me through this. I am only having problems with my husband. How do I get through to him to quit as well. Help please.
Hi Wendy, You could print the info on this page and post it on your refrigerator to remind you that you are taking healing action! Also, you might want to talk to someone like George, he is the author of the Stop Smoking for the Last Time as has a great track record for helping people quit for good. His email is posted at the end of the page.
I am fifty one, and I have smoked since I was sixteen. I have had two strokes. On Feb first of this year I quit cold turkey. It was hard, but I will never start again.
Congrats Joel! This is wonderful!!!
I quit smoking seventy-two days ago today. I have so much more I want to live for other than putting a cigarette to my mouth and inhaling a bunch of poisonous drugs into my lungs. I am forty-three years old. I started smoking when I was nineteen. I have COPD, I have had a heart attack at thirty-nine, I have CAD and I had a double by pass when I was forty-one. Cigarettes will kill You. It is not as hard as you think to quit. It did take me three times to finally quit but now I am ashamed that I didn’t quit so many years ago. The problem was me, and I thought I was going to be miserable and uncomfortable and so I didn’t. That was selfish of me as I should have quit so long ago. I just didn’t have the guts to butch up and get the job done. My biggest regret of my life is that I didn’t quit sooner!
Laura, Thank you so much for posting and sharing your story. I am sure your story will help many others who happen to read what you have to share. AND congratulations! We are so proud of you. So now you can move forward and watch your body heal. Also, we have heard that the peppermint vapor pipes can help COPD, check them out: Peppermint Vapor Helps the Lungs, too.
I quit smoking March 10th 2010 after finding myself at the urgent care center unable to breathe. After a breathing treatment, chest x-rays, an inhaler, antibiotics, and steroids, I am happy to report that I do not have cancer, which I have thought I had for years. What I do have is asthma and a very raspy smokers voice that I am embarrassed about. Has anyone experienced a very bad taste in their mouth where no food tastes good anymore and their tongue is irritated? Unfortunately the only thing that tastes remotely pleasant to me is bread. I have put on fifteen pounds in only five weeks, help. Has anyone had this experience in the past?
Hi Julie,
We are so thrilled to hear you stopped smoking! And so wise to get checked out. Even with the physical symptoms you are going through your body will heal in time. Hang in there!
One recommendation is a supplement that is highly rated for helping smokers heal. The US Army actually did a test of this supplement on their worse cases and found it brought their numbers back from near dead to in the positive range.
Here is another research study you might like to read > Study on Super Critical Antioxidants by New Chapter
You can also purchase Super Critical Antioxidants, and also the Women’s formula, (you might contact New Chapter and ask them what else would be good for you)… at Vitacost for 40 percent off!
The bad taste may be some type of small infection, or your body is beginning to detox. I imagine taste will come back as your body begins to balance. You might ask your doctor what he thinks it is, too. Also, I would recommend the drinking some of the New Chapter Berry Green too! That might help bring your taste back. It is really good for you, so can’t hurt.
Again, Congratulations!
Sandy
Thank you I will talk to my doctor and check out the link you sent.
I can’t help but think that using some immune boosting herbs or cleansing herbs would help make the process of healing go faster after quitting smoking. As far as a bad taste in your mouth Julie it may be from the inhalers that asthma patients take. I use one and believe me it makes my taste buds change. Also some of the steroid drugs for asthma can make you gain lots of weight. It would be nice if you could quit smoking and then maybe get the asthma under control. You would then use much less medication.
I have just found out that my fifteen year old daughter started smoking last year when her beloved granny died. She’s smoking between three and nine a week and insists she has not lost control. I hate smoking and I want her to stop. Asthma is in both parents’ families. I fear for her health. I’ve explained this to her, but she hopes she’ll be OK. But once she’s hooked she’ll have more and never want to stop. Any ideas please?
Hi Sandy … you are welcome to check out all the categories on CiggyFree, and print any of the articles and give to your daughter to read. One that may really wake her up may be this one: Dangers of 69 Cancer Causing Chemicals in Cigarettes to Men, Women and Unborn Babies Remind her that it isn’t just herself she is hurting but everyone around here. Including those who pass by because the dangers of second hand smoke are very real too. You sound like a wonderful parent, so just keep dangling the evidence in front of her, and she will get the message! Thanks for stopping by.
I am trying to quit smoking, but my lungs hurt and I have a hard time breathing. I am always wishing for a smoke when sitting in the Casino. How long after you quit do your lungs hurt?
Hi Sharon, Everyone is a little different. The guidelines above are a pretty good indication of what to suspect, but you may want to go to your doctor and have a good check up to monitor your progress. The encouragement you get from your doctor as your lungs start to improve could also give you additional support to refrain from starting to smoke again. So don’t try … Do IT! You can!! Add years to your life! So much to be grateful for, and so many lives yet to touch.
Hi Everyone, I just wanted to say that it is so important that you stop smoking and stay quit. I had to listen to a close family member tell me his lung cancer was the size of a softball. He described it as one ugly piece of work. They gave him three months. He goes on Monday for chemotherapy and radiation as a last ditch effort to shrink this thing and give him some time. It is very hard to hear sobbing on the other end of the phone and hear that he thought he had more time. It was he thought an infection that they would for sure cure with antibiotics. Think hard about this and what it means to everyone who loves you! Please quit smoking.
Hi, I would like to know more about the foods which would decrease the harmful effects of smoking.
Hi Srini, the best foods are those high in antioxidants such as green tea, broccoli, spinach, and berries to name a few.
Today is my fourth day that I have not smoked, and I am using the patch today. It is the hardest day of all. I keep busy, but I can’t stop thinking of wanting a cigarette. When will I not have these cravings anymore? And also will I keep having these cravings the whole time I have the patch on, until I’m completely off the patch?
Today is my first day of quitting smoking, once again. I had quit over six years ago and for some crazy reason I started back. I already know that it will be hard, but the benefits will naturally out weigh the bad. I just regret starting back, after quitting for all those years.
Hi Ronda, congratulations on your decision! And know that what you did six years ago you can do again, and easier this time because you know more. Glad you are seeking out support, too! There are so many great websites now that offer support. If you need reminders of why not to start again, just read through some more of our posts. So glad you are pulling out of the mass hypnotic wave of smoking and reclaiming your right to better health and authentic happiness.
I’m on my second day and my chest feels as if it is in a vise, it is hard to breathe. I’d kick my butt all over the place for ever starting, but I don’t have the wind to do it.
Mike, Congratulations! These symptoms will ease up soon. Just hang in there and make a vow to NEVER start again! You can do it!
I quit six days ago. The first couple of days were agony. Now the cravings aren’t so bad, but I have crying spells. I will just start crying for no particular reason. This has been going on for about three days now.
Hi Kristi, Crying is part of release and detox .. you will rebalance, do hang in there! Lots of stuff gets stuck in the cells, including emotions… Do some nice stretching, a warm bath, self love nurturing actions … and know we so proud of you and you can do it!
This is my first day without a cigarette. I quit for two years at one point and started again, stupid. Any how I’m on the Chantix program and it really seems to be working great. One piece of advice during your first week of Chantix you still smoke at this time, you should notice less and less cravings, so smoke when you want while you look at photos, and read articles on what smoking does to the human body. I’ll never smoke again and for me Chantix makes it easier.
Hi my name is Aida I stopped smoking on Dec. 1st 2010.after refusing to pay 10 dollars a pack. I smoked for twenty one years. I started out with Chantix for two weeks and have not smoked nor taken any more chantix. I never smoked in the presence of my three children, but they always asked me to quit. I already feel healthier and my kids are very happy for me. I’m glad I quit and sad I didn’t do it sooner. I’ve gained four pounds in almost four weeks but a little bit of love handles wont hurt anyone. Good luck and my blessing to those to become smoke free.
Aida, Congratulations! That is fabulous. Your children are probably beyond overjoyed! What a gift to give them as well as yourself. You might also want to read this post on tips to help with food cravings after you stop smoking.
How do you get your taste buds back after quitting smoking because my taste receptors are not working still after smoking? So how do I get them working again? Is there medicine I can take that will cure this problem, and my sense of smell is not that great either?
I have been clean from cigarettes for 7 days now. My skin is breaking out, and I never have pimples. Is this normal? I have gained weight too. But most important my chances double to be healthy and able to watch my kids grow up and their kids? I’m one of the people who always gets bronchitis. This sucks, my doctor said it is kind of having like COPD. I never want a chest cold like that ever again. I started at thirteen and now I’m twenty-nine doing it cold turkey all the way. I am so proud of myself.
Hi Johnny and Heather, I wanted to mention to both of you that you may want to purchase some Super Critical Anti Oxidants from New Chapter. The navy actually did a study with this supplement and found it helped the body’s immune and healing response from the toxic and ill effects from smoking. Remarkably. Scroll up the comment I left for Julie and you will find the links there. Johnny this is what I would recommend to help you get your taste back, and Heather it will help you, as well. I also have a post with tips tohelp with weight management after quitting smoking
Hi I am Kumar, I started to smoke around twenty-one and now I am forty-two. I was a smoker for almost twenty years. During all these years I never thought to quit smoking but all of a sudden last week I decided to quit eight days ago and I quit smoking. That’s it very simple. Not a big deal. It is really great and I feel like I am five years younger than what I am. I think I should have done this long time back. I am very proud of myself as I am strong enough to quit smoking in my first attempt. Smokers please try to quit as early as possible as it’s not too late. Life will be very beautiful without smoking. Enjoy your life.
I have been off the smokes for two and a half days now, cold turkey, it’s been pretty easy so far and I intend to keep going. I am using the android app. now to help me along. I have been smoking since I was sixteen years old I am now twenty-six. I have tried and failed to quit before but this time I’m stronger. Good luck to everyone hope you all get clean and smoke free.
I have been smoke free for thirty-six days now and feel great. The first two weeks were pure torture. I did have a relapse one night while having a few drinks and regretted it the next day when I woke up with the worst cigarette hangover I’ve ever had. Two weeks ago my best friend was diagnosed with emphysema and had to have both his legs amputated below the knee due to gangrene setting in because of smoking. I will never smoke again.
Bea, we are saddened to hear about your friend. Our heart goes out to them… So proud of you for quitting … it seems like your wake up was a pretty strong message watching your friend dealing with such severe complications. It is amazing how big tobacco seriously brain washes people into thinking smoking is cool, glamorous, etc… when it sets us up for so much heartache. Congratulations on your decision, and stay focused on self love and you will never smoke again!
I’ve been smoke free for eleven days an loving it. I was thinking of patches an stuff but went cold turkey instead. Why waste more money on that when it was my fault for smoking. May third was the day I had my last smoke, and the reason for giving up was a advertisement that I had seen on TV which got me thinking about it.
I quit four days ago and I am feeling better every day. I will turn forty this March, and I have been a smoker for over twenty-five years. I just want to live to see my Grandkids be born and have kids.
Scott, that is excellent! Yes, you will see your grandkids, that is an excellent motivator, isn’t it. And Bobby, just read some of the blog posts here if you need a reminder of why you quit! Not only are you no longer being lead by advertisements that want to keep people smoking for their corp profits, but you are taking your life back into your own hands!
Hi I have been smoking for more than twenty five yrs. and never thought of giving it up until a few days ago. On March second, I just gave it up though I am tempted but I just kicked the Butt and I am glad because now I can walk for miles without getting tired, and I can also save a lot of money.
Anjali …. Yes! Your life will be so much better … if you feel tempted, just read the posts on this blog and hopefully you will never smoke again. You will really come to understand that you don’t need to be manipulated any longer! Congratulations! You did it!
I smoked for 27 years and no “other” attempts at quitting worked till one day it was “Cold Turkey” way. Great, today is four months completed without smoking. It feels great and my system is still going through the repair work apparently, as I cannot walk briskly for more than 30 minutes due to left leg muscle cramps. Surprisingly my blood sugar has shot up after quitting so now another thing to deal with.
Today is day three for me. I know I don’t need to smoke but all I think about all day long is how much I want to. I am taking Chantix and it does make it easier, but I did still slip up today and have one cigarette. I completely regret it and wish I hadn’t done it. But how long will it take before I stop thinking about it constantly? If these thoughts don’t go away I know I won’t make it.
To all those trying to quit, stay quit! The withdrawal symptoms or cravings will pass, I promise. The deal is, you must get past the withdrawal phase and let it do its perfect effect. Then, the cravings happen farther and farther apart until one day, you realize you have not thought of smoking for days or even weeks or months. I started smoking when I was six years old. Can you believe that? I then proceeded to smoke for another forty years. It’s sad but true. I wish I never would have started. The good news is, I am smoke free today and loving every minute of it.
I’ve now been smoke free for two months and I love it. This will be the last time I am on here because now I’m looking ahead to the future.
Congrats Bobby! Yes, keep your eye on the future, and you will stay “smoke free” Here is to your good health!
Thanx Sandy!
Hi all, great to hear so many different reasons for quitting and that everyone seems to be successfully doing so. I have been a smoker for twenty years and never seriously thought about quitting until I had a daughter who will be one year old at the end of May. She is my motivation for quitting. I don’t want to be an old looking, out of breath, embarrassing father. I certainly don’t want her to ever pick up the filthy habit. Anyway, my last cigarette was on Saturday. I realized that my life revolved around cigarettes and what a sad existence that is. I must admit, at the moment I miss it, three days later, but I know that it was just a part of my daily routine that I needed to change. As I said just by looking at my daughter, that gives me all the strength I need to fight this battle and the fact that I am no longer poisoning my body, so I am going cold turkey all the way. Good luck to everyone.
James that is so fantastic you are quitting and now you have so much motivation to do so. Another motivator is the dangers of second hand smoke to small children. Here is just one article we posted Dangers of Second Hand Smoke to Children. If you search the site you will find many other studies of the ill effects of second hand smoke. Good luck! And congratulations! You CAN and are quitting! Yes!
Well, my brother and I quit smoking. We’re on day three. Man the first two were pretty rough. Whew, I felt like something was wrong, something was missing. I was very uncomfortable. Now on day three I am better still. I miss it and I am drinking a lot of water. I am going to start taking a one a day vitamin, and start
riding the bike. I am a lot better than yesterday. I like reading these comments. It lets me know it can and is done by a lot of other people. I’ll keep ya posted.
Jay, that is fantastic! Yes, you both are doing it! Keep it up .. it is wonderful that you are providing support for each other and can reflect in your old age how you helped each other!
Hey guys, well just a check up. I am still smoke free after eight months. I would like to say to every one else who has tried and not succeeded try again and again. It is worth it and so very beneficial as well. I was a very heavy smother but persistence and a great girlfriend got me to where I am now. I gained a bit of weight, but I can lose that in a heart beat. Keep up the good work guys.
Fantastic! And thank you so much for offering support for others to begin on their healing path!