Benefits of Quitting Smoking

Dear Ask The Doctor: I smoked for twenty years and stopped a year ago. I don't expect my lungs to be 100% of what they could have been; if i didn't smoke.  I want to speed up the rejuvenation. I am tired of spitting up black phlegm!

Dear Earl: Congratulations on quitting smoking.  Its is good you realize the benefits will not be instantaneous.  I have included some points from an older surgeon generals publication that outlines the benefits of quitting smoking and when to expect them. I find it helpful with my patients. I hope you find it helpful as well.

• Just 20 minutes after your last cigarette, your blood pressure and
• pulse rate drop to normal and the body temperature of your hands and feet increases to normal.
• A mere 8 hours after your last smoke, the carbon monoxide level decreases and the oxygen level in your blood increases to normal
• Just 24 hours after your last cigarette, you substantially lessen your chances of having a heart attack.
• Two days after your last cigarette, you will notice that your ability to taste and smell is enhanced.
• Three days later, your breathing should be noticeably better because your lung capacity will be greater.
• Your circulation will improve and your lung functioning will increase up to 30% within two weeks to three months after quitting.
• Between one month and nine months, the cilia in your lungs will regenerate, allowing your body to clean your lungs and reduce infection.
• One year after quitting, your risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker.
• Five years after quitting, your risk of stroke is reduced to that of a nonsmoker.
• Ten years after quitting, the lung cancer death rate is about half that of a continuing smokers. The risk of cancer of the mouth, throath, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas decreases.
• Fifteen years after quitting, your risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmokers.